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 does the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar contribute to the increase in opium cultivation and trafficking in the region?
**Interview with Dr. Aung San, Drug Policy Expert and Regional Analyst**
*Date: November 23, 2024*
*Location: Online*
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Dr. Aung San. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent developments regarding opium production in Myanmar.
**Dr. Aung San:** Thank you for having me. It’s a critical and complex issue that’s impacting many lives in the region.
**Interviewer:** The United Nations has reported that Myanmar has overtaken Afghanistan as the world’s leading producer of opium. What factors have contributed to this shift?
**Dr. Aung San:** Several interlinked factors have led to this situation. The political instability following the coup in Myanmar in February 2021 has greatly disrupted traditional agricultural practices. Many farmers, particularly those displaced by conflict, find themselves in desperate situations and turn to illegal poppy cultivation as a means of survival. Additionally, the Taliban’s ban on poppy cultivation has removed Afghanistan as a primary competitor, allowing Myanmar to fill that void in the global opium market [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/asia/myanmar-worlds-leading-opium-producer-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the impact of conflict. Could you elaborate on how the civil strife in Myanmar affects drug production?
**Dr. Aung San:** Absolutely. The ongoing civil war, particularly the fighting between the Myanmar military and various ethnic groups like the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, has created a lawless environment. This instability allows drug trafficking networks to flourish. Displaced individuals are often forced into illicit activities, such as working in poppy fields, simply to make ends meet. The United Nations noted an 18% increase in cultivated opium areas in 2023 compared to the previous year, indicating how these circumstances are feeding a cycle of dependency on the drug economy [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/asia/myanmar-worlds-leading-opium-producer-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** What does this mean for the larger region, especially with Myanmar being part of the Golden Triangle?
**Dr. Aung San:** The Golden Triangle, which includes Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, has long been known for its narcotics production. Myanmar’s resurgence in opium production is not just a national issue but has regional implications, extending the reach and influence of drug trafficking organizations. The increased opium cultivation is causing a boom in both opiates and synthetic drugs in this area, heightening crime and instability. This is an alarming trend for neighboring countries concerned about drug trafficking and its associated violence [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/asia/myanmar-worlds-leading-opium-producer-intl-hnk/index.html)].
**Interviewer:** With all these challenges, what potential solutions exist for addressing drug production in Myanmar?
**Dr. Aung San:** Solutions need to be multifaceted. First, there needs to be a concerted effort towards restoring political stability and security in Myanmar. International organizations and local governments should focus on providing economic alternatives for farmers, such as investments in legal crop production and infrastructure development. Additionally, there needs to be a collaborative approach among Southeast Asian countries to combat the drug trade while addressing the root causes that drive people into these illegal activities.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. San, for your insights on this pressing issue. It’s vital that we continue to monitor these developments and advocate for effective solutions.
**Dr. Aung San:** Thank you for having me. I look forward to further discussions as this situation unfolds.