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Inside Myanmar's Soaring Heroin Trade

Journeyman Pictures・12 minutes read

Myanmar, now open to tourism, features Inle Lake as a popular spot where Intha people live and grow crops on water. The country is the world's second-largest opium producer, fueling a civil war and global drug trade, prompting efforts to combat production and smuggling.

Insights

  • Myanmar, once isolated, has emerged as a tourist hub with Inle Lake as a prominent attraction where the Intha people engage in traditional practices like fishing and farming vegetables.
  • The opium trade in Myanmar, driven by around 200,000 households, has escalated into a significant issue fueling a civil war, with drug money influencing various factions, leading to global heroin smuggling, including to Australia.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of Inle Lake in Myanmar?

    Inle Lake is a popular tourist destination in Myanmar, known for its traditional Intha community living, fishing, and farming on the waters. The area is famous for growing vegetables like tomatoes and garlic, showcasing a unique way of life that attracts visitors from around the world.

  • How does opium production impact Myanmar?

    Opium production in Myanmar is a significant issue, with the country being the world's second-largest opium producer. Around 200,000 households are involved in opium cultivation, with workers earning less than $1,000 annually. The trade has fueled a long-running civil war between ethnic groups and the Burmese military, with drug money influencing all sides.

  • Where does most of Australia's heroin come from?

    Most of Australia's heroin comes from Myanmar, where traders collect opium from farms, transport it, turn it into heroin, and smuggle it globally. This includes smuggling to Australia, highlighting the global impact of the opium trade originating in Myanmar.

  • What efforts are being made to combat opium production in Myanmar?

    Various initiatives are being implemented to combat opium production in Myanmar, including the UN's coffee substitution program in opium-growing regions. Additionally, anti-drug vigilantes in the country are taking action by destroying poppy fields and fighting against drug dealers to bring about change and end the drug trade.

  • How does the opium trade affect the conflict in Myanmar?

    The opium trade in Myanmar plays a significant role in fueling the conflict in the country, as drug money influences various ethnic groups and the Burmese military. This has led to a long-running civil war, with the trade impacting all sides involved in the conflict.

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Summary

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Myanmar: From Dictatorship to Drug War

  • Myanmar, previously isolated due to dictatorship, is now a tourist hotspot, with Inle Lake being a popular destination.
  • Inle Lake is a traditional area where the Intha people live, fish, and farm on the waters, growing vegetables like tomatoes and garlic.
  • Southern Shan State, near the Golden Triangle, is an opium-producing region, making Myanmar the world's second-largest opium producer.
  • Opium cultivation involves around 200,000 households in Myanmar, with workers earning less than $1,000 annually.
  • The opium trade has fueled a long-running civil war between ethnic groups and the Burmese military, with drug money influencing all sides.
  • Traders collect opium from farms, which is then transported, turned into heroin, and smuggled globally, including to Australia.
  • Most of Australia's heroin comes from Myanmar, with China having the largest number of heroin users in Asia.
  • Efforts are being made to combat opium production, with initiatives like the UN's coffee substitution program in opium-growing regions.
  • Anti-drug vigilantes in Myanmar are destroying poppy fields and fighting against drug dealers to bring change and end the drug trade.
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