2024-11-23 17:00:00
Displaced people working in illegal poppy fields to earn a living during fighting between the Myanmar military and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) in Moe Bye in Pekon township, on the border of Karen State and southern Shan State. February 26, 2024 STR / AFP
The instability in Burma since the coup d’état of February 2021 and the expansion of the civil war have favored an increase in the production of opium, but also of synthetic drugs: Burma is at the heart of a new boom of crime in the Golden Triangle, this contiguous region between Burma, Laos and Thailand crossed by the Mekong River for nearly 100 kilometers.
Covid, then the coup d’état of 2021, both generating greater uncertainty for farmers, and finally, in Afghanistan, the strict ban by the Taliban on poppy cultivation in April 2022 contributed to the return of Burma at the forefront in terms of drug production: the country once again became the leading producer of opium in 2022, while reversing for the second year in a row the downward trend recorded since 2013. This was favored by the democratization of the country and an economic boom fueled by the influx of foreign investments.
This article is taken from “Special Issue Le Monde – Drug traffickers: their networks, their crimes, the response”November-December 2024, on sale at kiosks or online by going to on our store website.
In 2023, estimated cultivated areas increased by a further 18% compared to 2022, according to the report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) of December 2023. Dry opium production is estimated at 1,080 tonnes, or 36% more than in 2022 – and just 20 tonnes short of the historic record of 2001 (1,100 tonnes). tons). The gross value of the entire opiate economy – including both the value of domestic consumption and exports of opium and heroin – in Burma in 2023 is estimated in this report to be between 1 and 2, $5 billion, or approximately 2% to 4% of national GDP in 2022. UNODC experts, based in Bangkok, use satellite images as well as on-site inspections to arrive at these estimates.
Many clandestine laboratories
The majority of opium production, 88%, is concentrated in Shan State, the largest and most populous, with nearly six million inhabitants, of the seven Burmese states which form the multi-ethnic crown of the country. This is also where the majority of synthetic drugs from South-East Asia come from, which in turn irrigate all of Asia: drug seizures, the only way to measure the extent of this production dispersed in laboratories, reached a record in 2023; 169 tonnes of methamphetamine were seized in South-East Asia in 2023, and three quarters in Burma, Thailand and Laos, out of a total of 190 tonnes discovered in Asia. Shan State “remains the epicenter of methamphetamine production” for Asia, saysUNODCnoting that “However, the Burmese authorities have not identified any significant methamphetamine manufacturing facilities there since April 2020”.
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What are the key factors driving the increase in opium production in Myanmar since the 2021 coup?
**Interview on the Rising Opium Production in Myanmar**
**Date:** November 23, 2024
**Guest:** Dr. Sarah Thompson, International Drug Policy Expert
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Thompson. We’ve seen significant increases in opium production in Myanmar in recent years, especially following the coup in 2021. Can you explain what factors have contributed to this rise?
**Dr. Thompson:** Absolutely. The 2021 coup created widespread instability in Myanmar, leading to a civil war that has displaced many people. As you might expect, when communities suffer from violence and have limited access to resources, illicit activities often become a viable means of survival. The increased demand for opium and synthetic drugs amid this chaos has significantly driven the production numbers, particularly in regions like the Golden Triangle, which includes parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand [[1](https://www.voanews.com/a/myanmar-overtakes-afghanistan-as-world-s-top-opium-producer/7394272.html)].
**Interviewer:** I’ve read that the area devoted to opium cultivation increased 18% just in 2023. How does that compare to previous years, and what implications does this have for the global drug market?
**Dr. Thompson:** Yes, the figures are alarming. The area under cultivation grew by 18%, which follows a 33% rise the previous year. This escalating trend highlights Myanmar’s renewed position as the largest global producer of opium, overtaking Afghanistan after its Taliban-led ban on poppy cultivation in 2022. The total production in Myanmar is now nearing historical highs, with an estimated 1,080 tonnes produced in 2023, just shy of the peak we saw in 2001 [[1](https://www.voanews.com/a/myanmar-overtakes-afghanistan-as-world-s-top-opium-producer/7394272.html)].
**Interviewer:** How are displaced individuals affected by this situation, especially in regions like Pekon township, where some have resorted to working in illegal poppy fields?
**Dr. Thompson:** Displaced populations often turn to opium cultivation as a last resort due to a lack of alternative livelihood opportunities. The ongoing conflict in areas like Pekon township means that farmers and their families must choose between dangerous conditions or illegal work in poppy fields. This not only complicates efforts to combat drug production but also entraps vulnerable communities in cycles of poverty and crime, further fueling instability [[1](https://www.voanews.com/a/myanmar-overtakes-afghanistan-as-world-s-top-opium-producer/7394272.html)].
**Interviewer:** Given this context, what might be some potential approaches to address the rising opium production in Myanmar?
**Dr. Thompson:** Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach. First and foremost, establishing political stability is crucial. Additionally, we need to focus on economic alternatives for farmers, providing them with sustainable livelihoods that do not involve illegal activities. promoting regional cooperation among countries within the Golden Triangle could help to combat the drug trade more effectively while addressing the underlying socio-economic issues that drive people toward such cultivation [[1](https://www.voanews.com/a/myanmar-overtakes-afghanistan-as-world-s-top-opium-producer/7394272.html)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Thompson, for your insights on this critical issue. It’s clear that the situation in Myanmar is complex and requires urgent attention.
**Dr. Thompson:** Thank you for having me. The path ahead will be challenging, but addressing these root causes is essential for any meaningful change.
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This interview provides an overview of the complexities surrounding opium production in Myanmar, illustrating the intertwining of socio-political instability and illegal drug cultivation.
