Myanmar has become the world’s largest producer of opium, surpassing Afghanistan, according to a report by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The report estimates that Myanmar’s opium production will increase by 36% this year to reach 1,080 tonnes, far exceeding Afghanistan’s reported production of 330 tonnes. The shift is attributed to a significant drop in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban imposed a drug ban last year.
In Myanmar, opium cultivation has expanded, driven by the economic and security disruptions following the military coup in February 2021. The civil war that ensued has made opium cultivation a lucrative source of income for farmers in remote areas. The report notes an 18% increase in cultivation over the past year, describing it as “increasingly sophisticated” due to the use of densely organised plots, irrigation systems, and fertilisers.
The rising prices of opium, coupled with the dire state of Myanmar’s economy exacerbated by the pandemic, have attracted more individuals to engage in cultivation. Shan State, the epicentre of fierce fighting between ethnic armed groups and the military, has historically been Myanmar’s largest opium producer. The conflict has led to the downfall of powerful mafia families engaged in illicit activities, but insurgent groups continue to rely on opium sales to fund their operations.
The report anticipates that the intensification of conflict in Shan and other border areas will further boost opium production. It highlights the expansion of opium cultivation in northern Shan State, followed by the states of Chin and Kachin, where insurgencies against the military are ongoing.
Opium cultivation has long been an economic driver in Shan, providing employment for locals in poor and remote areas. The opium economy’s most lucrative aspect is heroin production and trafficking. The report estimates that Myanmar has exported up to 154 tonnes of heroin in 2023, valued at approximately $2.2 billion. The region encompassing the borders of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos, known as the Golden Triangle, has historically been a major source of opium and heroin production, with Myanmar and Afghanistan being the primary global suppliers of heroin.
Kiki Garba
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