Overview

• Three simultaneous ceremonies in Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi saw the incineration of opium, heroin, crystal meth and other narcotics valued at roughly $297.95 million.
• Officials staged the burnings to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
• UNODC data shows Myanmar was the world’s top opium producer in 2023 while regional methamphetamine seizures hit a record 236 tons last year.
• Experts say the military’s 2021 coup and the ensuing civil war have empowered ethnic militias and military-linked networks to expand production in Shan State.
• Investigators warn that drug proceeds are increasingly tied to online scam operations and money laundering across Southeast Asia.