Thu May 29 03:57:12 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

**Record Meth Seizures in East, Southeast Asia Signal “Explosive Growth” in Synthetic Drug Trade, UN Warns**

**BANGKOK** – A United Nations report reveals a dramatic surge in the synthetic drug trade across East and Southeast Asia, leading to record-breaking methamphetamine seizures in 2024. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) announced the seizure of 236 tonnes of methamphetamine last year, a 24% increase compared to the previous year.

The surge is attributed to heightened production and trafficking within the “Golden Triangle,” the border region of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. While Thailand intercepted a record 130 tonnes of methamphetamine alone, the UNODC warns that trafficking routes are rapidly expanding through Laos and Cambodia, originating from Myanmar’s Shan State.

“The 236 tons represent only the amount seized; much more methamphetamine is actually reaching the market,” stated Benedikt Hofmann, the UNODC’s acting regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. He emphasized that the seizures, though indicative of law enforcement efforts, also reveal “unprecedented levels of methamphetamine production and trafficking” from the Golden Triangle.

Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, which began in 2021, is cited as a contributing factor, creating an environment conducive to drug trade expansion, not only within East and Southeast Asia, but increasingly into South Asia, particularly Northeast India.

The report highlights the “remarkable agility” of transnational drug gangs in evading law enforcement. Key trafficking routes are evolving, with Cambodia and Laos becoming increasingly significant corridors and maritime routes linking Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with Sabah in Malaysia serving as a critical transit hub.

The UNODC also notes a shift in drug user demographics in some countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, reporting increases in the number of older drug users while the number of younger users has declined. This trend warrants further investigation, according to the UNODC.

Hofmann urges increased investment in both drug use prevention campaigns and supply reduction strategies to combat the growing crisis.

The full UNODC report provides further details on the complex and evolving dynamics of the synthetic drug trade in the region.

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