Myanmar Civil War Fuels Surge in Cross-Border Drug Trade, Says Thai Official

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK – Thailand is experiencing a significant rise in the trafficking of illegal drugs from neighboring Myanmar, alongside a notable increase in the seizure of methamphetamines and heroin. This surge is being exacerbated by the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar, according to a senior official from Thailand’s counter-narcotics agency.

Apikit Ch. Rojprasert, the deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), noted that the northern region of Thailand remains the primary route for drug traffickers. These dealers transport methamphetamine tablets and crystal meth, commonly known as ice, via mountain passes or the Mekong River.

Thai authorities report that organized crime groups have formed alliances with militias and rebel factions to establish large-scale drug manufacturing facilities, or "super labs," in Myanmar’s Shan and Kachin States. While a spokesperson for Myanmar’s military junta declined to comment on this issue, the government has previously expressed its willingness to cooperate with neighboring countries to combat drug-related crimes.

Apikit highlighted that the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar has turned drug trafficking into a means of financing weapons and sustaining military operations. He emphasized the need for vigilance against crimes connected to drug trafficking and the importance of collaboration with neighboring nations.

The civil war in Myanmar has seen the military confront various resistance groups, leading to a loss of territory and escalating violence since the military took over the government in 2021.

According to ONCB data, the quantity of meth tablets seized in Thailand’s northern provinces—including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son—has skyrocketed by 172% in the first eight and a half months of this year, totaling 346 million pills, compared to the entire amount seized in 2023. Similarly, seizures of crystal meth rose by 39% during the same time frame, reaching 6.48 tons. Heroin has also made a notable comeback, with 327 kg seized this year, which is nearly seven times the amount captured last year.

Political instability in Myanmar has led to a resurgence in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, as well as increased opium cultivation, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Despite the uptick in drug seizures, the street price of methamphetamine pills in Thailand is declining, suggesting that significantly larger quantities are evading law enforcement. Currently, the average cost of a meth tablet in Thailand is approximately 25-30 baht, a sharp drop from 80 baht in 2017 and from 200 baht in 2013.

General Narit Thanwornwong, who oversees Thailand’s drug suppression efforts on the northern border, estimates that over 50 million meth pills are currently awaiting trafficking into Thailand. He noted that while some armed groups opposing Myanmar’s junta are involved in drug trafficking, other organizations not engaged in the conflict are also playing significant roles in the drug production and trade.

Data from the ONCB reveals a notable increase in drug seizures in northern Thailand since the 2021 coup in Myanmar, with crystal meth seizures up by 284%, amphetamine tablets by 201%, and heroin by 77%.