In February 2021, the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s armed forces, overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government. Threatened by increasing democratization and liberalization in Myanmar, the Tatmadaw supplanted Myanmar’s government in an attempt to retain military power. After the most recent brutal coup, the Tatmadaw established a military junta. The junta plunged Myanmar back into a familiar cycle of authoritarianism, marking the renewal of a period of chaotic military dictatorship. Immediately after the new junta’s establishment, dozens of ethnic and minority groups banded together to establish over twenty militias resisting the new government. Myanmar’s former leaders also established a shadow government, the National Unity Government (NUG), which is home to the People’s Defense Force [1]. The NUG seeks to lead the re-democratization of the country, with the goal of removing the Tatmadaw from power. Militias across Myanmar buy weapons from a few factories in the country but mostly smuggle guns and ammunition across the border. Myanmar’s societal discordance and frenetic nature reflect a broader trend in the country: unpatrolled borders and political turmoil are giving rise to a large network of transnational organized crime.

Myanmar’s current political state is the perfect breeding ground for organized crime to prosper. On one hand, the junta focuses all its efforts on reclaiming territory from the various militias around the country. On the other hand, the militias’ aim is to defeat the junta, rather than create law and order in their claimed territories. This focus on land gains leaves much of Myanmar ungoverned and provides criminal networks with a prime environment to establish their headquarters. Since the conflict between the Tatmadaw and NUG started, Myanmar has become the world’s largest opium producer. Surprisingly, opium production per hectare has increased by more than 36 percent, as criminal networks utilize the patches of fertilized limestone soil [2]. Most production comes from Shan State, Myanmar, a Southeast Asian criminal narcotics hub [3]. The Shan State is now one of the largest global producers of crystal methamphetamine and heroin, both of which are created using opium from poppy plants. The production of these illicit substances funds international narcotics rings and fuels the problem of drug addiction across Southeast Asia. Since 2021, over 90 percent of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s seizures have come from Southeast Asia as the organization tries to rein in opiate production and consumption. The proliferation of cheap methamphetamine is a burgeoning issue across India, Bangladesh, and Thailand. For instance, truck drivers and farmers in border villages are addicted to meth pills dosed with caffeine—a more stimulating and addictive drug to keep the narcotics sales going [4]. Evidently, without an established governing body, lawlessness runs rampant in Myanmar and has exacerbated the drug crisis in Southeast Asia. 

Crime in Myanmar is not limited to narcotics. Illegal wildlife trade, money laundering, and scam operations have all become extremely prevalent [5]. Cyber operations are especially lucrative, amassing more than $75 billion from scams since 2020 [6]. Criminal networks in countries bordering Myanmar have pounced on this opportunity by joining forces with those in Myanmar to evade the law. Consequently, cyber scams are largely located around the borders of China, Thailand, Laos, and other Southeast Asian countries. Recently, cyber scams have taken the form of online casinos, gambling games, and relationship cultivation via texting apps to scam people into fake cryptocurrency investments. The high density of cyber scams has opened up a human trafficking network, as criminal networks need personnel to run such extensive online operations. The variety of crime across Myanmar’s borders displays the insecurity of the region and the dire need for a stable government in the country.

The conflict in Myanmar causes both domestic and international turmoil. Without a stable governing body to enforce laws, crimes have emerged with global repercussions. In addition to scamming innocent civilians around the world out of billions of dollars, Myanmar’s criminal organizations have recruited new members in more than thirty countries [7]. Increased recruitment grows illegal operations exponentially, allowing criminal networks to continue robbing victims of scams or distributing illegal drugs. Insecurity around the world will only worsen as long as recruitment continues. The efforts of greater powers, like the U.S., to curb illegal activities through sanctions, like limiting visas given to Burmese officials and freezing the Tatmadaw’s assets, have thus far been ineffective [8]. Therefore, a stronger approach is necessary. Specifically, the U.S. should support the NUG militarily by sending weapons and monetary aid, while putting pressure on Thailand, India, Russia, and China to crack down on criminal networks selling weapons to the junta [9]. This will allow the NUG to take control over the Tatmadaw’s established governments across Myanmar, creating a path for a democratic future for Myanmar’s central government. Through this effort, the U.S. would secure a strategic alliance in its geostrategic counterbalancing against China, as Myanmar’s military junta supports China’s infrastructure and economic ambitions [10]. Additionally, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a critical starting point for restoring peace in Myanmar. ASEAN should continue advocating for the Five-Point Consensus, which includes constructive dialogue between parties in conflict [11]. In conclusion, the world needs to come together in solidarity against the reigning authoritarian leadership, to stabilize the region, and ensure the narcotics trade ends in the region.