July 24, 2004

I'll have metallic blue

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

For countries with an average weekly income of about US$20 one is struck by the number of near new Mercedes on the road. How can they afford such cars? I wondered.

The answer is simple: in Kyrgyzstan they're stolen, a new vehicle can be had for $5000 or as little as $1000 for something a little older. And in Tajikistan they're paid for by the handsome profits of drug-trafficking from Afghanistan.

Now why didn't I think of that?

Posted by David at July 24, 2004 08:28 PM