A “dramatic” drop in opium cultivation in Burma has underscored a regional boom in demand for illegal synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine, which many Asian countries are struggling to combat.
At a remote farm about two hours away from Loikaw, capital of Karenni State, farmers scrape out raw opium from the poppies they’ve grown.
Kalay, a major trading town in Sagaing Division, pays a heavy price for its strategic location near the Indian border, as police fight in vain against a flood of drugs.
Members of a controversial drug vigilante group are being investigated by police, following an attack on the home of a Kachin militia leader.
KWAT reports that the escalation of drug abuse in Kachin State is fuelled by the ongoing conflict in the region.
