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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How do regional dynamics in Southeast Asia, particularly in neighboring countries like Thailand and Bangladesh, influence the drug trafficking situation stemming from Myanmar?
**Interview on the Surge of Drug Production in Myanmar’s Golden Triangle**
**Interviewer**: Good evening, and welcome to our segment discussing the troubling rise of drug production in Myanmar’s Golden Triangle region, particularly in light of recent events following the military coup and ongoing conflicts. Joining us today is Dr. Emma Tan, an expert in Southeast Asian politics and drug policy. Thank you for being here, Dr. Tan.
**Dr. Emma Tan**: Thank you for having me, it’s a pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer**: To start, can you give us an overview of the current situation in Myanmar regarding drug production?
**Dr. Emma Tan**: Certainly. Since the coup d’état in February 2021, Myanmar has seen a significant escalation in both conflict and drug production. Displaced people, particularly in areas like Moe Bye in the Pekon township bordering Karen State and Shan State, are being forced to work in illegal poppy fields to make ends meet amid the fighting. This instability has not only increased opium production but also synthetic drugs, as Myanmar has once again become a leading opium producer, reversing a downward trend observed since 2013 [[1](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/drug-trafficking-surging-year-since-myanmar-coup-2022-02-01/)].
**Interviewer**: What factors have contributed to this increase in drug production?
**Dr. Emma Tan**: There are several interrelated factors. The aftermath of the coup and the civil war has created an environment of desperation, pushing many to turn to poppy cultivation for survival. Additionally, external factors like the Taliban’s ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, which had previously been a major supplier of opium, have heightened demand for heroin sourced from Myanmar. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported a staggering 36% increase in opium production in 2023 compared to the previous year, nearing historic highs [[1](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/drug-trafficking-surging-year-since-myanmar-coup-2022-02-01/)].
**Interviewer**: What implications does this have for the region and broader efforts to combat drug trafficking?
**Dr. Emma Tan**: The implications are vast. Increased drug production fuels not only local violence but also international drug trafficking networks, complicating regional security dynamics. Countries in the region, including Thailand and Laos, are facing rising trafficking activities that spill over their borders. Moreover, without a stable governance framework in Myanmar, efforts to combat drug production and trafficking become increasingly difficult, leading to a cycle of crime and instability.
**Interviewer**: As we look to the future, what potential solutions could be implemented to address this crisis?
**Dr. Emma Tan**: Solutions must be multifaceted. Addressing the root causes of drug production—such as poverty, lack of access to alternative livelihoods, and local governance—is crucial. International cooperation is also essential; countries need to share intelligence and develop coherent strategies to dismantle trafficking networks. Ultimately, a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar would be a significant step toward mitigating these issues.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Dr. Tan, for shedding light on this complex situation and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions.
**Dr. Emma Tan**: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss such an important topic.
**Interviewer**: And to our viewers, stay informed and engaged, as the situation in Myanmar continues to evolve.
