How did Myanmar become the ‘number one’ in the production of opium, leaving behind Afghanistan?
According to a recent survey by the United Nations, Myanmar has become the world’s largest producer of first barafion in 2023. Earlier, Afghanistan was the largest producer of opium.
Remember that poppy is cultivated and opium is distilled from its flowers. This opium is further processed to produce heroin and other deadly drugs.
Myanmar is part of the ‘Golden Triangle’, bordering Laos and Thailand, which is considered the world’s most notorious center for the illegal drug trade.
Poppy has been cultivated in this region for many decades and from this opium, the most destructive drug for human health, heroin, is produced.
Myanmar is a war-torn country and there are many reasons why it is the leading producer of opium.
A devastating civil war
Ever since Myanmar gained independence from British rule in 1948, the central government has been involved in conflicts with ethnic minority groups living in the mountainous regions along its borders.
However, the latest military coup in 2021 has torn the country apart. The army cracked down on peaceful protests demanding the restoration of democracy with violence.
Over time, activists of Myanmar’s opposition parties along the borders with Thailand, China and India joined the insurgents, while some returned to civilian areas after receiving military training to fight against the army.
They formed a network of armed groups known as the People’s Defense Forces (PDF).
Meanwhile, strong military groups such as the Karen, Kachin, Kearny and Chin decided to align with the National Unity Government (NUG), which had been established by the elected administration ousted by the coup.
But various groups living in the lawless regions bordering Thailand and China, known as the world’s biggest hubs for illegal drugs, have not joined the campaign.
Almost three years after the coup, the PDF, supported by ethnic armed groups, has become the main fighting force.
Large-scale conflicts are widespread, and the military is unable to maintain control in many areas, including the Golden Triangle.
Banned in Afghanistan
Afghanistan used to be one of the top poppy-growing countries in the world, but since the Taliban banned its cultivation there in April 2022, production in Afghanistan has dropped dramatically.
According to the UN’s 2023 Afghanistan Opium Survey, opium production from 6,200 tonnes in 2022 has dropped to just 333 tonnes in 2023, a 95 percent drop in production.
On the other hand, Myanmar’s production has increased by 36% to 1,080 tonnes during the same period.
Although Myanmar still produces far less opium than Afghanistan’s highest production rate, it is now the largest in the world.
The ongoing instability in Myanmar has led to international concerns that opium production there will continue to increase.
Rising price
Ever since the ban on the cultivation of opium in Afghanistan, the price of opium has skyrocketed. The average price of opium paid to growers as raw material is about $355 per kilogram. According to the United Nations, the current price of opium is 75% higher than in 2022.
The steep rise in the price of opium is very attractive to farmers as Myanmar’s economy continues to slide due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, mismanagement by military rulers and civil war.
The shortage of its worldwide supply has also increased the demand for opium from the Golden Triangle.
Great opportunity for farmers
Efforts have been made to reduce opium production in Myanmar by introducing other crops such as sugar, rubber, and fruits, but these are difficult to grow and less profitable than poppy production.
It is difficult to transport these alternative plants from remote areas to the market while buyers travel to the field themselves to buy poppies, saving farmers from expensive transport costs.
Myanmar has received little external funding or international aid since the country’s latest uprising, making it difficult for poor farmers to find alternative sources of income.
Due to poor human rights records and lack of accountability on the part of military rulers, little international support is available to eradicate poppy production and other narcotic drugs.
Unrest in the region
The Golden Triangle region has been a crime hotspot for decades. These include crimes like drug manufacturing, illegal arms trade, gambling, human trafficking and online fraud.
Myanmar’s remote mountainous region has porous borders, making it easy for criminals to evade the law.
Recent clashes in northern Shan state are linked to China’s crackdown on online fraud centers that operate only from inside Myanmar.
The end of poppy production is one of the many problems facing Myanmar. Since the military coup, the country has been suffering from severe decline in all aspects politically, economically and socially.
The current military government is struggling to control the country, but tackling the drug problem is not high on their agenda.
Many people, including Janata soldiers and ethnic armed groups, profit from the illegal production of narcotics by taxing traders passing through their territories. So there is no real incentive to stop opium cultivation and trade. Conversely, in a volatile environment, a profitable source of income is essential.