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 resurgence of opium production in Myanmar since the military coup in 2021?
**Interview with Dr. Emily Johnson, Southeast Asia Drug Policy Expert**
**Date:** November 23, 2024
**Location:** Virtual Studio
**Host:** Welcome, Dr. Johnson. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the alarming increase in opium production in Myanmar, especially in light of the ongoing conflict.
**Dr. Johnson:** Thank you for having me. It’s an important issue that demands our attention.
**Host:** The situation in Myanmar has changed significantly since the coup in February 2021. Can you explain how this political instability has influenced the resurgence of opium production?
**Dr. Johnson:** Absolutely. Since the coup, Myanmar has seen a great deal of turmoil. The military conflict, particularly with ethnic groups like the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, has created a vacuum of governance and economic opportunity in many rural areas. Displaced populations are often left with few options to earn a living, and tragically, many have turned to illegal poppy cultivation as a means of survival [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Myanmar)].
**Host:** What other factors are contributing to this increase in opium production?
**Dr. Johnson:** There are several interconnected factors. The ongoing civil war has exacerbated poverty and uncertainty, which drives farmers towards illicit crops. Additionally, the global drug market dynamics have shifted; for example, after the Taliban imposed strict bans on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in 2022, Myanmar has emerged as the leading producer of opium. This shift has effectively reversed a declining trend in local production [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Myanmar)].
**Host:** The statistics are startling. In 2023, there was an 18% increase in cultivated opium areas, leading to a total production of approximately 1,080 tonnes. How does this relate to the broader context of the Golden Triangle region?
**Dr. Johnson:** The Golden Triangle, which includes Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, is historically significant in global drug production. The current instability in Myanmar has not only increased opium output but also spurred a rise in synthetic drug trafficking as criminal organizations capitalize on the chaos. This area is seeing an unsettling resurgence in both opiates and synthetic drugs like methamphetamine, further entrenching drug-related violence and crime [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Myanmar)].
**Host:** Given these challenges, what can be done to address the root causes of this illicit opium economy?
**Dr. Johnson:** Tackling this issue requires a multifaceted approach. There needs to be an emphasis on peace-building efforts that stabilize the region. Additionally, alternative livelihoods must be provided to farmers to dissuade them from cultivating opium. This could include investments in infrastructure, education, and agriculture—but it all hinges on some level of stability and governance returning to Myanmar [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Myanmar)].
**Host:** It sounds like a complex situation, with no easy solutions. Thank you, Dr. Johnson, for shedding light on the challenges facing Myanmar and the implications of its drug production. Your insights are invaluable.
**Dr. Johnson:** Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we continue to discuss these issues and push for meaningful change in the region.
**Host:** And thank you to our viewers for joining us. We’ll keep following this pressing topic closely.
