After a day long interview with a poppy farmer in southern Afghanistan, the investigative reporter was handed four poppy pods from the farmer as a 'gift'; when he handed the pods to the reporter, the farmer said: "This is a gift of love from me; a kiss of death for you."
Poppy pods procured from Kandahar City. They were lanced six times each, indicating a slightly above average extraction of raw opium. Photo by Matt Dupee.