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Opium Production

All articles tagged with #opium production

drugs2 years ago•4 min saved

Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as World's Leading Opium Producer: UN

Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan as the world's largest producer of opium, according to a United Nations report. The Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan led to a 95% decrease in opium production, potentially causing global shortages of opiates. Myanmar's opium trade has expanded for the third consecutive year, with production increasing by 36% in 2023. The country's deepening economic crisis and ongoing civil war have contributed to the rise in opium cultivation. Ethnic armed organizations and militia groups control drug-producing territories, while the production of synthetic drugs has also surged in the region.

via CNN|

#afghanistan #drugs #myanmar

drugs2 years ago•3 min saved

Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as World's Largest Opium Producer

Myanmar has regained its position as the world's largest opium producer, surpassing Afghanistan, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The estimated land used for opium cultivation in Myanmar increased by 18% to 47,100 hectares, with the opium yield expanding by 16%. The report attributes the increase to sophisticated cultivation methods and the economic and security disruptions caused by the country's political turmoil. The average price paid to opium growers also rose by 27%, indicating strong demand. The ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar's northeast is expected to further accelerate this trend.

via NBC News|

#drugs #golden-triangle #myanmar

drugs2 years ago•2 min saved

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.

via BBC.com|

#afghanistan #drug-trafficking #drugs

drugs-and-crime2 years ago•2 min saved

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.

via Al Jazeera English|

#afghanistan #drugs-and-crime #myanmar

drugs-and-crime2 years ago•2 min saved

Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as World's Largest Opium Producer

Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan as the world's largest producer of opium, according to a United Nations report. Myanmar produced an estimated 1,080 metric tonnes of opium this year, while opium production in Afghanistan slumped by 95% due to the Taliban's ban on poppy cultivation. The "Golden Triangle" region between Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand has long been a hub for illegal drug production and trafficking. Myanmar's opiate economy is now valued between $1 billion and $2.4 billion, equivalent to 1.7% to 4.1% of the country's GDP. The increase in poppy cultivation in Myanmar is attributed to conflict, instability, and poor access to markets.

via The Guardian|

#afghanistan #drug-trafficking #drugs-and-crime

world2 years ago•2 min saved

Taliban's Drug Ban in Afghanistan Leads to 95% Drop in Opium Supply

Opium production in Afghanistan has plummeted by 95% since the Taliban banned poppy cultivation in April 2022, according to a UN report. Poppy cultivation dropped from 233,000 hectares to 10,800 hectares, and opium production decreased from 6,200 tons to 333 tons in 2023. Farmer's incomes have fallen by 92%, raising concerns about the impact on vulnerable rural communities. The UNODC warned of the potential for people involved in the opium industry to turn to other illegal activities. The ban on poppy cultivation could worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which has been exacerbated by the Taliban takeover and a drop in international aid deliveries.

via DW (English)|

#afghanistan #drug-ban #opium-production