The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has recently released a report titled ‘Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023 – Cultivation, Production, and Implications’. This in-depth report unveils an alarming increase in Opium cultivation within the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia.
What is the Golden Triangle?
The Golden Triangle refers to a region in Southeast Asia notorious for its production of illicit drugs, especially opium. This area is where the borders of three countries intersect: Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), Laos, and Thailand. The term “Golden Triangle” originally denoted an opium-producing region spanning sections of these three nations. This term has since evolved to refer to a more comprehensive area associated with drug production, trafficking, and organized crime. A similarly infamous region for illicit drugs is the Golden Crescent, including Afghanistan and Iran, hence serving as a natural transit point for drugs being smuggled out of Pakistan.
Main Highlights of the Report
According to the UNODC report, Opium cultivation in the Golden Triangle has continued to expand over the past year, particularly within Myanmar. The country experienced an 18% increase in Opium cultivation, reaching 47,100 hectares. This substantial rise, primarily due to disruptions following the Military Takeover in 2021, has marked Myanmar as the world’s largest source of opium.
However, this appears not to be the only area of concern. The average yield per hectare has expanded by 16% to 22.9 kilograms/hectare, reflecting improvements in farming practices and increased investments in irrigation systems and fertilizers. This suggests a more sophisticated approach by farmers and buyers. Despite an expanding supply, the price paid to farmers for opium has risen by 27% to approximately USD 355 per kilogram, underscoring the strength of demand fueling the opium trade in the Golden Triangle.
The report suggests that a prolonged ban on opium in Afghanistan, enforced by the Taliban, is likely to result in continued high prices and further increases in cultivation in Southeast Asia. This ban has led to a 95% decrease in opium poppy cultivation within Afghanistan, contributing to the illicit economy in the Mekong region, including Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, China’s Yunnan Province, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as Vietnam.
Key Facts about Opium Poppy Plants
Opium comes from the sap of the opium poppy, scientifically known as Papaver somniferum, and has been used for centuries for various purposes. It’s utilized as a pain reliever, a sedative, and in the production of a variety of opioids, including morphine, codeine, and heroin. India is the only country authorized by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) to produce gum opium for medicinal purposes. Other countries, such as Australia, Austria, France, China, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Turkey, and the Czech Republic, cultivate opium poppies but do not extract gum. Instead, they use the Concentrate of Poppy Straw process (CPS).
The Role of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Established in 1997 and renamed as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2002, this organization combines the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division of the United Nations Office at Vienna. The UNODC is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).
Initiatives to Tackle Drug Abuse
Several initiatives have been undertaken around the world to tackle drug abuse, including India’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan/Drugs-Free India Campaign and National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction. International efforts include the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, and The UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. Each year, the UN publishes a World Drug Report, Global Drug Policy Index.
Increasing opium cultivation in Southeast Asia is a serious issue that needs addressing. By understanding the root causes of this problem and taking decisive action, the international community can create positive change in the Golden Triangle and beyond.