Methamphetamine trade skyrockets out of the ‘Golden Triangle’ area | Drug Trade Headlines

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has reported an “explosive growth” in the synthetic drug trade, resulting in record seizures of methamphetamine in East and Southeast Asia in 2024. According to a new UNODC report, a total of 236 tonnes of methamphetamine were seized last year in the region, representing a 24% increase compared to the previous year. Thailand became the first country in the region to seize over 100 tonnes of methamphetamine in a single year, with a total of 130 tonnes intercepted. However, trafficking of the drug from Myanmar’s lawless Shan State is rapidly expanding in Laos and Cambodia. The UNODC’s acting regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Benedikt Hofmann, stated that these seizure figures only represent a fraction of the methamphetamine that actually reaches the market. The booming trade in synthetic drugs is also being aided by the remarkable adaptability of transnational drug gangs in countering efforts by regional law enforcement to crack down on the trade. The report highlights how Myanmar’s grinding civil war has created favorable conditions for the expansion of the drug trade. Countries neighboring Myanmar are becoming key trafficking routes for drugs produced in the “Golden Triangle.” The UNODC note also emphasizes that, while methamphetamine and ketamine use has overall increased in the region, the number of older drug users has grown in some nations. The age trend requires further study. The UNODC’s Hoffmann suggests that the decline in young drug users admitted for treatment might be due to targeted drug use prevention campaigns. He stresses the importance of investing more in both prevention and supply reduction strategies in the region.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/29/methamphetamine-trafficking-surges-from-golden-triangle-region?traffic_source=rss