Myanmar overtakes Afghanistan as top opium producer
BBC NewsJUL 2023
UN: Myanmar Surpasses Afghanistan as World’s Biggest Opium Producer
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The Spin
Narrative A
The resurgence of opium production in Myanmar is a direct response to the 2021 coup, with organized crime groups taking advantage of the political instability in the country. Myanmar's coup and subsequent civil war plunged the country into a severe economic crisis and large portions of the country were thrown into abject poverty. A lack of law and order, as well as a lack of economic opportunities, has allowed opium production to grow unchecked in the country.
Narrative B
While the instability in Myanmar has undoubtedly contributed to this surge, it's not the only factor at play: When the Taliban outlawed the trade of heroin and hashish in 2022, Myanmar rushed to fill the gap in the market. Though opium production experienced a dramatic drop in the Golden Triangle in 2014 and 2015, the economic situation not only in Myanmar but throughout the region has changed dramatically over the past seven years. This is a regional issue that requires regional collaboration to be fixed.