What's happened
In 2024, Southeast Asia saw a record seizure of 236 tonnes of methamphetamine, a 24% increase from 2023. The surge is attributed to industrial-scale production in Myanmar's Shan State, exacerbated by ongoing civil unrest. Trafficking routes are diversifying, impacting neighboring countries significantly.
What's behind the headline?
Key Insights
- Unprecedented Production: The UNODC reports that methamphetamine production in Myanmar's Shan State has reached unprecedented levels, driven by organized crime groups.
- Diversified Trafficking Routes: Traffickers are increasingly using maritime routes and land corridors through Laos and Cambodia, indicating a shift in drug distribution strategies.
- Market Dynamics: The availability of methamphetamine tablets at low prices (as low as $0.60) in Myanmar suggests a mass-market approach, making the drug more accessible.
- Regional Impact: Neighboring countries are experiencing increased drug flows, with significant implications for public health and law enforcement.
- Future Trends: The ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar is likely to sustain or even escalate drug production and trafficking, necessitating enhanced regional cooperation in drug policy and enforcement.
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, the UNODC highlighted that the 236 tonnes seized in 2024 reflect only a fraction of the methamphetamine reaching markets, emphasizing the need for improved prevention strategies. AP News corroborates this, noting that the political situation in Myanmar has created favorable conditions for drug production, with traffickers diversifying their routes to evade law enforcement. The Independent echoes these sentiments, pointing out that the Golden Triangle's historical significance in drug production has shifted towards methamphetamine due to its easier industrial production compared to opium and heroin. This convergence of factors underscores the urgency for regional authorities to address the escalating drug crisis.
How we got here
The rise in methamphetamine seizures is linked to Myanmar's political instability following the military coup in February 2021. This unrest has facilitated the expansion of drug production and trafficking networks in the region, particularly from the Golden Triangle.
Go deeper
- What are the health impacts of increased meth use?
- How are governments responding to the drug crisis?
- What role does Myanmar's political situation play in drug trafficking?
Common question
-
What Caused the Record Methamphetamine Seizures in Southeast Asia?
In 2024, Southeast Asia experienced an unprecedented surge in methamphetamine seizures, reaching 236 tonnes—a 24% increase from the previous year. This alarming trend raises questions about the underlying factors contributing to this crisis, the implications for drug trafficking in the region, and the potential impact on public health and safety. Below, we explore these pressing questions and provide insights into the current drug landscape in Southeast Asia.
More on these topics
-
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam, is a country in Southeast Asia. Located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, it is composed of 76 provinces, and covers an area of 513,120 square kilometres, and a population
-
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is a United Nations office that was established in 1997 as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program and the Crime Prevention and Crimin
-
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has a population...
-
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is the only landlocked country of the Indochinese peninsula and Southeast Asia. Clockwise from North, Laos is bordered China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.
-
Asia is Earth's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the Eastern and Northern Hemispheres. It shares the continental landmass of Eurasia with the continent of Europe and the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with both Europe and Af