Myanmar overtakes Afghanistan as world's biggest opium producer

Myanmar has surpassed Afghanistan as the world's leading producer of opium, according to a UN report. Myanmar produced 1,080 metric tonnes of opium this year, while Afghanistan's production slumped to around 330 tonnes. The Golden Triangle region, spanning Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, has been a hub for drug production and trafficking. The opiate economy in Myanmar is now valued between $1 billion and $2.4 billion, equivalent to 1.7 to 4.1 percent of the country's GDP. Poppy cultivation in Myanmar has become more sophisticated, leading to higher crop yields.