The ongoing civil war in Myanmar, now spanning over three years, has provided an opportunity for drug cartels to thrive, with Shan State emerging as a major hub for illicit narcotics production.
This situation poses a significant threat to neighbouring Bangladesh, which is increasingly becoming a key destination for these dangerous drugs.
According to the Department of Narcotics Control, the largest shipments of Yaba (methamphetamine tablets) entering Bangladesh are sourced from Myanmar's Shan State.
Alongside Yaba, the region has become a hotspot for the production of other potent drugs, including crystal meth (ice) and heroin. Although the spread of ice in Bangladesh was once rare, recent reports indicate a surge in seizures by law enforcement agencies.
In one of the most recent instances, in November last year, Bangladesh's Coast Guard seized one kilogram of crystal meth, worth approximately Tk 5 crore, from Shahporir Island in Teknaf.
Earlier in August, large consignments of Yaba and ice, worth Tk 21 crore, were intercepted by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) along the Teknaf and Naikhong border areas.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that Myanmar has ascended to the top of global opium production in 2024. Poppy flowers, which grow on the slopes of Shan State’s mountains, are used to produce heroin, while nearly fifty factories in the region manufacture Yaba and ice.
While 37 Yaba production factories were previously identified in Myanmar, the number has more than doubled in recent years due to the ongoing conflict.
Shan State shares borders with China, Thailand and Laos, and drug production thrives in this region due to a steady supply of raw materials such as methamphetamine and caffeine from the Golden Triangle.
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Besides, ephedrine, a key ingredient in the production of ice, is largely sourced from China. The growing network of drug factories in Shan State reflects the extent to which the region has become a major illicit narcotics hub.
Recent reports from The New York Times describe Shan State as a central node for warlords, smugglers, and drug traffickers.
Despite being initially hindered by local and central government forces, drug cartels in the region have flourished, partly due to bribes and the weakening of governmental authority in the wake of civil unrest. Armed insurgent groups have also capitalised on the drug trade to fund their operations.
In interviews with the media, drug dealers revealed that while the government and military had previously posed obstacles, the collapse of the state apparatus has allowed these illegal operations to flourish.
According to them, the insurgent groups operating in the region rely heavily on profits from the drug trade to sustain their armed activities.
With the market growing, competition between traffickers has intensified, leading to a drop in prices. For instance, while a can of beer costs around 10 US dollars, a single Yaba tablet can be bought for as little as 25 cents.
Bangladesh’s Struggle with Drug Proliferation
The spread of narcotics in Bangladesh has been accelerating since 2006, when the price of Yaba was over 1,200 Tk per tablet. The price has since plummeted, with current rates ranging from 100 to 120 Tk per tablet in Cox's Bazar, and between 200 to 250 Tk in Dhaka.
The Narcotics Control Department and law enforcement agencies are facing increasing challenges in curbing the trade, which predominantly flows into the country through the Teknaf border.
According to Khondokar Mostafizur Rahman, Director General of the Narcotics Control Department, the vast majority of Yaba entering Bangladesh is sourced from Myanmar. "The drug trade is flourishing, and we are struggling to control it," he said.
The department’s intelligence reports reveal several hotspots in Dhaka for Yaba trade, including railway stations, bus terminals, and launch ghats. Areas such as Mohammadpur’s Geneva Camp, Mirpur Kalshi, Old Dhaka, Kamrangirchar, and Karwan Bazar are also identified as active drug hubs.
In addition to Yaba, there has been a rise in the circulation of ice in affluent areas of the capital, including Gulshan, Banani, and Uttara. Some dealers are even selling ice online, further complicating enforcement efforts.
Despite the growing concern, many people mistakenly believe that heroin use has declined in the country due to the widespread availability of Yaba and cannabis.
But the Department of Narcotics Control reports that heroin is once again gaining traction.
Since Myanmar’s opium production has increased, heroin shipments to Bangladesh have also surged. Traffickers are now using India as a route to bypass direct shipments through the Teknaf border, further complicating enforcement efforts.
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In 2020, the department seized 210 kilograms of heroin, but by 2023, that number had jumped to over 700 kilograms. In just the first half of 2024, more than 357 kilograms of heroin were seized.
The Path Forward
Experts argue that despite repeated calls for zero tolerance, the government has not taken enough decisive action to curb the spread of narcotics. According to UNODC research, only 10% of the drugs entering a country are intercepted by law enforcement. In Bangladesh’s case, due to its proximity to Myanmar, it has become a hotspot for drug proliferation.
Dr. Touhidul Haque, Associate Professor at Dhaka University and an expert in criminology, noted that the actual amount of narcotics entering Bangladesh is likely even higher than the UNODC estimate.
"Drugs have become far more accessible than before. When narcotics become easier to obtain, their spread becomes inevitable," he said.
To effectively combat the issue, experts recommend heightened vigilance along Bangladesh’s border with Myanmar, with an emphasis on preventing the entry of yaba, ice, and heroin into the country.