Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as Global Opium Leader

Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan as the world's largest producer of opium, with its production estimated to rise by 36% to 1,080 tonnes this year. The increase in opium cultivation is attributed to the economic, security, and governance disruptions following the military takeover in February 2021. Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan dropped by 95% after a drug ban by the Taliban. Rising prices, the dire state of Myanmar's economy, and the ongoing civil war have made opium cultivation a more attractive source of income. The report also highlights the expansion of opium cultivation in northern Shan State, Chin, and Kachin, where insurgent groups are fighting the army. Heroin production and trafficking in Myanmar's opium economy remain highly profitable.