The Drugs Trade in Southeast Asia

The golden Triangle region of Southeast Asia has become known as one of the world’s two leading producers of opium. The other is Afghanistan and, before the invasion in 2001, the ruling Taliban were very effective in persuading and forcibly preventing farmers from cultivating poppies. Consequently, the growing worldwide demand for narcotics has inspired many more people to try to create a supply in the Golden Triangle region.

The Golden Triangle is the name given to the region in which Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China all join together. It is a thickly forested and mountainous area and very difficult to monitor. Many ethnic groups in conflict with their national governments have retreated to this area to continue with their armed struggle. To fund their communities and their armed insurrection and resistance, these groups often resort to growing opium poppies or other forms of illegal drug production. Over the past few years, understanding of the technology necessary to produce methamphetamines has spread widely and now many factories are hidden deep within the forest. Armed convoys carry the produced drugs to distribution networks based in local towns, occasionally crossing borders as necessary. Since these border towns are comparatively small and remote, they are often under the control of local godfathers rather than the central government. Generally, godfathers will cut deals with one or more ethnic groups or other drugs producers and enable them – with military support – to suppress any potential rivals.

Traveling in the Golden Triangle can, therefore, be a dangerous enterprise. Not only might there be armed drug production facilities and convoys, there will also be government troops on suppression missions or else aiding one or other drug gangs. Armed bandits also operate in the area looking for targets of opportunity. Occasionally, an internationally sponsored drugs suppression mission might be mounted, which is likely to have advanced technology and weapons.

The effects of the drugs trade extend throughout Southeast Asia and further afield. Many schools and colleges are subject to cheaply manufactured amphetamines and ecstasy, which have become much more popular than heroin or opium. Workers required to work long shifts – such as truck and taxi drivers or factory workers – may also use amphetamines. It is certain, in any case, that there is no shortage of people wishing to sell drugs to potential users. It is widely believed that a number of famous politicians whose power base is in a border region or other remote place are also actively involved in the drugs trade. These powerful figures are not immune from the law but have such a wide network of contacts and clients – in the government services and elsewhere – that few people would willingly testify against them or wish to prosecute them. A maverick cop ignoring the pressures to keep silent about drugs dealing and setting up a personal investigation is likely to wind up dead. So too are nosey reporters or loud mouthed community workers. The great majority of people are indifferent to occasional deaths such as this and assume, if they think about it at all, that victims have become involved in an illegal trade in some way and therefore deserve all that comes to them. It is unfortunate.