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 drivers behind the rise in opium production in Myanmar following the political crisis?**
**Interview with Dr. Mei Lin, Drug Policy Expert and Humanitarian Aid Worker**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Lin. With the recent reports indicating a significant rise in opium production in Myanmar, especially in conflict-affected areas, could you tell us about the situation there?
**Dr. Lin:** It’s a grim reality. Since the coup in February 2021, Myanmar has faced escalating violence and instability, particularly in regions like Karen State. Displaced people, often lacking basic resources, are turning to illegal poppy cultivation to survive. The ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military and groups like the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force has left many with no choice but to engage in this illicit economy.
**Editor:** The UNODC noted that Myanmar has overtaken Afghanistan as the world’s largest opium producer. What are the key factors contributing to this surge?
**Dr. Lin:** Several factors are at play. The political crisis has dismantled agricultural support systems and led to increased poverty. Compounding this, the Taliban’s ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has eliminated a major competitor in the global opium market, pushing farmers in Myanmar to fill that gap. As conditions worsen, more farmers are resorting to opium as a primary means of income, pivoting away from traditional crops.
**Editor:** How has the international community responded to this situation?
**Dr. Lin:** The response has been mixed. While there is growing awareness of the issue, effective intervention is challenging. Humanitarian aid is often hindered by ongoing conflicts. Additionally, efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region need to consider the socio-economic realities that drive people into these illegal operations. Real solutions must address the underlying causes—such as poverty and lack of access to markets—rather than just the symptoms, which include drug production.
**Editor:** As a humanitarian worker, what are your thoughts on the future for these communities in Myanmar?
**Dr. Lin:** It’s a critical juncture. If the international community can engage constructively, focusing not just on deterrence but on building viable alternatives for affected populations, there is potential for change. However, without substantial and sustained support, we risk entrenching a cycle of poverty and violence, further embedding illegal economies.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Lin, for sharing your insights on this complex issue. It’s vital that we continue to monitor developments in Myanmar and advocate for comprehensive solutions.
**Dr. Lin:** Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we keep these conversations going as the situation evolves.
