South-East Asia Opium Survey 2012: Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Myanmar

“The opium numbers continue to head in the wrong direction”, said Gary Lewis, UNODC Regional Representative for East Asia and the Pacific. “However, we have seen more progress on responding to the root causes of opium cultivation in the past year than we have in the past decade. The international community must now ask ‘how can we help?’, and provide resources towards a solution.”

Shan Drug Watch: Druglords in Parliament

Shan State North almost became poppy-free in 2002, when the ruling military junta initiated a rapprochement policy with the United States and a vigorous anti-narcotics campaign was launched. The rapprochement did not work out, but the Kokang (in 2003) and the Wa […]

Opium Cultivation Surging in Constituency of Burma’s New Ruling Party

A new briefing paper by the Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO) exposes a dramatic increase in opium cultivation in Burma’s northern Shan State in the constituency of a drug lord elected into the new military-backed parliament […]

Still Imprisoned: Opium Cultivation Soars in Palaung Areas Under Burma’s New Regime

Almost one year after Burma’s long-awaited elections were held in November 2010, Palaung communities in northern Shan State are suffering from the effects of an even greater upsurge in opium cultivation than in previous years. Local paramilitary leaders, some now elected into Burma’s new parliament […]

Shan analysts: Junta militias emerging as new drug lords in Burma

Pro-junta militias operating in Shan State are now the main players in the drug trade, according to new findings by local Shan analysts.

The latest Shan Drug Watch newsletter, issued today, details how the Burmese regime’s War on Drugs has fallen way behind schedule, with 46 of Shan State’s 55 townships still growing opium. This is attributed to the Burma Army’s reliance on taxation of opium, and its policy to allow numerous proxy local militia to deal in drugs, including methamphetamines, in exchange for policing against resistance activity […]

Shan Drug Watch Issue 3

Poppy cultivation is continuing unchecked in 46 of the 55 Shan townships, mostly in areas under the control of the Burma Army and its militias. However, adverse weather conditions caused a massive drop in opium output during the last season. In other words, there is no evidence of sustained effort by the Burmese regime to eradicate opium. On the contrary, opium farmers throughout the state are being taxed by Burma Army units […]

Poisoned Hills: Opium cultivation surges under government control in Burma

Through community assessments, this report by the Palaung Women’s Organization (PWO) shows that opium cultivation is increasing dramatically in Burma’s northern Shan State. The amounts are far higher than reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and are flourishing in areas controlled by Burma’s military regime, not in the ceasefire areas claimed by the UN.

Palaung Women’s Organization launches report on surging opium cultivation in Burma

The Palaung Women’s Organization cordially invites you to the launching of our new report, Poisoned Hills: Surging Opium Cultivation under Government Control in Burma, at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) in Bangkok, January 26, 2010 at 10:30 am. Please join us as we discuss the pressing issue of opium cultivation in Burma’s northern […]

Poisoned Hills: Opium Cultivation Surges Under Government Control in Burma

Through community assessments, this report shows that opium cultivation is increasing dramatically in Burma’s northern Shan State. The amounts are far higher than reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and are flourishing in […]

Heroin Epidemic in Kachin State

This report, by Kachin News Group, details drug use in the Hpakant jade mine areas, Northern Kachin State of Burma, that leaves the community with so many problems and corruptions that let all these happen […]