Myanmar Becomes Global Crime Capital Amidst Drug Boom

• Myanmar has become a "Global Crime Capital," leading in illicit opium cultivation (53,100 hectares) and methamphetamine production, with an Organised Crime Index of 8.15 in 2023.
• Political instability and armed groups in the 'Golden Triangle' fuel Myanmar's drug trade, impacting regional markets and India's Northeast.
• The UNODC reported a 17% increase in opium cultivation from 2024, with fresh opium prices more than doubling since 2019, making the economy worth $641M-$1.05B.
• Beyond drugs, Myanmar is a hub for cybercrime and human trafficking, with China also spearheading massive, environmentally destructive rare earth extraction.
• The US designated Myanmar as a major International Drugs Hub, citing its failure to meet counter-narcotics obligations.

Why It Matters: Myanmar's crime capital status fuels global illicit trade and regional instability.