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 is the situation of displaced people in Myanmar affecting the cultivation of illegal poppy fields?
**Interview with Dr. Maya Tan, Regional Analyst for Southeast Asia**
**Host:** Welcome, Dr. Tan. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the alarming rise in opium production in Myanmar and the situation of displaced people working in illegal poppy fields.
**Dr. Tan:** Thank you for having me. It’s a critical issue that deserves our attention.
**Host:** The recent UN report states that opium production in Myanmar has surged to a nine-year high. Can you elaborate on what factors have contributed to this increase?
**Dr. Tan:** Certainly. The surge in opium production can largely be attributed to the ongoing instability in Myanmar since the coup d’état in February 2021. The resurgence of armed conflict has created an atmosphere of uncertainty for local farmers, many of whom have turned to opium cultivation as a source of income. Additionally, with the Taliban’s ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, Myanmar has effectively returned to the forefront of global opium production [[1](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64409019)].
**Host:** You mentioned displaced people working in these illegal poppy fields. What does their situation look like, particularly in areas like Moe Bye?
**Dr. Tan:** The situation is dire. Many displaced people find themselves in a predicament where they have no choice but to cultivate opium to survive. Armed conflicts between the Myanmar military and groups like the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) have left these individuals without viable economic alternatives. As a result, they are increasingly turning to illegal activities, not just opium cultivation but also synthetic drug manufacturing, as part of a broader crime boom in the Golden Triangle region [[1](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64409019)].
**Host:** How has the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated things for these communities?
**Dr. Tan:** The pandemic exacerbated the vulnerabilities of rural populations in Myanmar. Lockdowns and economic disruptions made it difficult for farmers to access traditional markets or support systems. This, combined with the political unrest post-coup, has driven many to resort to poppy cultivation as a more secure, albeit illegal, means of subsistence [[1](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64409019)].
**Host:** The UNODC reported that cultivation areas increased by 18% in 2023. What does this tell us about the future of drug production in Myanmar?
**Dr. Tan:** The continuous increase in cultivated areas suggests a worrying trend: as long as the socio-political instability persists, along with a lack of economic alternatives and support, we can expect opium production to remain high. There’s also a risk of institutionalizing this illegal economy, making it even harder to combat in the future. The combination of these factors could lead to Burma becoming more entrenched as a global supplier of opiates [[1](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64409019)].
**Host:** What measures need to be prioritized to address this crisis?
**Dr. Tan:** A multi-faceted approach is essential. Immediate humanitarian assistance is crucial for those displaced, alongside long-term economic development programs that can provide viable alternative livelihoods. Additionally, a political solution to the conflict is necessary to restore governance and stability, which would reduce reliance on illicit economies [[1](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64409019)].
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Tan, for your insights. It’s clear that addressing the roots of this issue is complex but essential for the future of Myanmar and the wider region.
**Dr. Tan:** Thank you for having me. It’s important that we continue to shed light on these issues.
