Summary
Highlights
In early 2024, significant illicit activities linked to Myanmar came to light, including the discovery of heroin in Italy, methamphetamine in India, and the rescue of over 7,000 people from a cyber scam center in Myanmar. The Organized Crime Index now ranks Myanmar as the new crime capital of the world, a dramatic shift from its recent democratic aspirations due to a collapsed economy and widespread criminal activity.
Myanmar's problems began during its time as a British colony, Burma. After gaining independence in 1948, the country faced ethnic divisions and internal conflicts, leading to the military overthrowing the government and subsequent decades of civil war. This instability prevented the development of a legitimate economy, pushing many into illicit activities like opium cultivation, forming the infamous Golden Triangle.
In the 2000s, international pressure and ethnic militias led to reforms, including the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and democratic elections in 2015. Her government, renamed Myanmar, made progress in reducing violence and crime, including opium production. However, the military maintained significant power and staged a coup on February 1, 2021, reigniting a deadlier civil war that has displaced millions and devastated the economy.
Following the coup, various armed groups, including the military and ethnic militias, now control territories and rely on criminal enterprises. Opium production has more than doubled, making Myanmar the world's leading producer. The country has also become the top producer of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine. Additionally, illegal mining of jade, gold, rare earth minerals, and timber has surged, with armed groups profiting heavily from these resources.
Online scam centers, initially established by Chinese criminal groups, relocated to Myanmar after a Chinese crackdown. They now flourish with protection from the military and militias in exchange for a share of profits. These centers defraud people globally, swindling billions and forcing over 120,000 individuals, many displaced by the war, into labor under horrific conditions.
While Myanmar's neighbors, Thailand and India, have initiated raids against scam centers, the broader international community, including the United States, has largely neglected the crisis. In contrast, China has increased its involvement, supporting both militias to close scam centers targeting Chinese citizens and the Myanmar military with over $3 billion in aid and military equipment. China's actions protect its economic interests, such as access to the Indian Ocean, and maintain its influence in the region, even if it prolongs the conflict and suffering in Myanmar.