Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as Global Opium Leader: UN Report

Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan as the world's top opium producer, according to a United Nations report. The decline in opium cultivation in Afghanistan after a Taliban-imposed drug ban in 2022 has shifted global supply to Myanmar, where political instability following a 2021 coup has driven many to poppy farming. Opium cultivation in Myanmar has increased by 18% from 2022 to 2023, with farmers now earning 75% more from opium poppy farming. The report highlights the link between opium cultivation in Southeast Asia and poverty, lack of government services, and insecurity. The UNODC warns of a "convergence" of criminal activities in the region, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and online scams.