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 main causes behind the increase in opium production in Myanmar since the coup d’état?
**Interview with Dr. Emily Carter, Southeast Asia Studies Expert**
**Host:** Welcome, Dr. Carter. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the troubling situation in Myanmar, particularly regarding the increase in opium production amidst the ongoing civil war.
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me. It’s a critical issue that deserves attention.
**Host:** The recent reports indicate that Myanmar has become the world’s leading producer of opium, especially following the instability from the coup d’état in February 2021. Can you explain how the civil conflict has driven this increase?
**Dr. Carter:** Absolutely. The ongoing civil war between the Myanmar military and various ethnic armed groups, like the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, has significantly disrupted the local economy. For many farmers who have been displaced or have lost their livelihoods due to the fighting, illegal drug production—particularly opium—has become a means of survival. This situation is exacerbated by economic instability, which has left many with little choice but to turn to poppy cultivation [[1](https://www.dw.com/en/myanmars-civil-war-drives-up-drug-production/a-69274967)].
**Host:** What other factors are contributing to this rise in drug production?
**Dr. Carter:** In addition to the civil war, we also have the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which added another layer of uncertainty and hardship for local farmers. Furthermore, the Taliban’s ban on opium cultivation in Afghanistan has led to a shift in the global drug supply markets, allowing Myanmar to reclaim its position as a leading opium producer, reversing the downward trend seen in previous years [[1](https://www.dw.com/en/myanmars-civil-war-drives-up-drug-production/a-69274967)].
**Host:** How significant has this increase been in terms of production?
**Dr. Carter:** According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, cultivated areas for opium increased by 18% from 2022 to 2023, with dry opium production estimated at 1,080 tonnes—an increase of 36% over the previous year. This output is just short of the historic highs we saw in the early 2000s [[1](https://www.dw.com/en/myanmars-civil-war-drives-up-drug-production/a-69274967)].
**Host:** Can we talk about the broader implications of this drug production surge on Myanmar and the region?
**Dr. Carter:** Certainly. The rise in opium production not only affects the immediate economy and social fabric of communities in Myanmar but also has significant implications for regional security. The Golden Triangle, which includes parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, is increasingly becoming a hub for both opium and synthetic drug trafficking, which can lead to higher crime rates and instability in neighbouring countries [[1](https://www.dw.com/en/myanmars-civil-war-drives-up-drug-production/a-69274967)].
**Host:** What can be done to address this issue, given the complex socio-political landscape?
**Dr. Carter:** Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach. Engagement from the international community to provide humanitarian aid, support for legitimate economic opportunities, and pressure for conflict resolution can help. Additionally, there needs to be a concerted effort to tackle the underlying issues of governance and poverty, which drive farmers to cultivate opium [[1](https://www.dw.com/en/myanmars-civil-war-drives-up-drug-production/a-69274967)].
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Carter, for your insights on this urgent issue affecting Myanmar and the broader region. We appreciate your time.
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this important topic.
