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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#Drug #economy #Golden #Triangle #revived #Burmese #crisis
How might the global drug market be affected by Myanmar’s rise as the largest opium producer?
**Interview with Dr. Emily Carter, an Expert on Drug Policy and Southeast Asian Affairs**
**Date: November 23, 2024**
**Host:** Welcome, Dr. Carter! Thank you for joining us today to discuss the alarming rise in opium production in Myanmar following recent events.
**Dr. Emily Carter:** Thank you for having me. It’s an important and urgent topic.
**Host:** To start, can you explain how the political and economic instability in Myanmar has contributed to the surge in opium production?
**Dr. Carter:** Certainly. The coup in February 2021 and the subsequent civil conflict have created a dire situation for many farmers in Myanmar. With traditional livelihoods disrupted, many have turned to opium poppy cultivation as a means of survival. The economic chaos, coupled with increased violence, has pushed communities into these illicit markets as a last resort [[1](https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144702)].
**Host:** We’ve seen this increase mirrored in statistics. Reports indicate that cultivated areas for opium have risen by 18% from the previous year, with overall production reaching an estimated 1,080 tonnes in 2023. How does this position Myanmar on the global stage?
**Dr. Carter:** Myanmar is now the world’s largest opium producer, overtaking Afghanistan. This is a significant shift that has implications not only for regional stability but also for global drug trafficking patterns. As the Taliban imposed strict bans on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, Myanmar’s production has surged to fill the gap in the market [[1](https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144702)].
**Host:** What are the broader consequences of this resurgence in opium production, particularly in the context of the Golden Triangle?
**Dr. Carter:** The Golden Triangle region, which includes Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, is notorious for drug trafficking networks. The increase in opium production is likely to exacerbate issues of crime, addiction, and violence across the region. Additionally, it poses significant challenges for law enforcement and public health systems, which are already strained [[1](https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144702)].
**Host:** Many of those turning to poppy cultivation are displaced people seeking to survive. What humanitarian implications does this situation present?
**Dr. Carter:** It’s a tragic consequence of war. Displaced populations are often left with few options, and working in illegal poppy fields may seem like their only means of sustenance. This not only perpetuates the cycle of poverty and addiction but also creates vulnerabilities to exploitation by criminal organizations [[1](https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144702)].
**Host:** Looking ahead, what steps should the international community take to address this crisis?
**Dr. Carter:** There needs to be a multi-faceted approach that includes humanitarian aid, support for alternative livelihoods for farmers, and robust law enforcement strategies to combat trafficking. Moreover, engaging local communities in peace processes is crucial to stabilizing the region. Without addressing the root causes of the conflict, efforts to curb drug production will likely fail [[1](https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144702)].
**Host:** Thank you, Dr. Carter, for your insights on this pressing issue. It’s clear that the path forward will require concerted efforts on multiple fronts.
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we continue to raise awareness and foster dialog on this issue as it unfolds.
**Host:** And thank you to our audience for tuning in. Stay informed and engaged as we follow this situation closely.
