Reporters - The Golden Triangle: From opium to meth

The Golden Triangle: A region where opium turned to methamphetamine, fueled by a powerful Chinese mafia.

In the early 19th century, the Golden Triangle - situated on the border of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos - became synonymous with opium production. The CIA popularized this name in the 1970s as drug trafficking reached its peak, with nearly 700 tonnes of opium produced annually and exported worldwide, often sold as heroin.

However, the region has witnessed a drastic shift in recent years. New illicit synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and ketamine have gained prominence, manufactured secretly in clandestine laboratories within Myanmar. The Golden Triangle drug cartels, allied to the Chinese mafia, now produce more synthetic drugs than their Mexican counterparts. This burgeoning industry not only endangers the lives of those involved but also funds the civil war in Myanmar that began after the 2021 military coup.

The region's transformation from opium to methamphetamine production is a stark reminder of the evolving landscape of global illicit drug trade. As Justin McCurry, Aruna Popuri, Constantin Simon, and William de Tamaris report, this deadly trade poses significant security challenges and fuels the instability in Myanmar.

I'm low-key shook by the Golden Triangle's transformation . From opium to methamphetamine - it's like something out of a Breaking Bad movie . And the fact that the Chinese mafia is involved? That's just straight fire . The whole thing feels so connected to the global illicit drug trade, and how it can fuel all sorts of problems in different countries.

I'm also kinda worried about the impact on Myanmar, especially with their civil war situation . It's like, you've got this massive problem on your hands, and there doesn't seem to be a clear solution . I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need to keep an eye on this situation and make sure we're doing everything we can to support Myanmar in their time of need .

It's crazy how the Golden Triangle has changed so much over the years, though. From being all about opium production to becoming a major player in synthetic drug manufacturing - it's like they say, "the only constant is change" . But seriously, can't we just have one less thing to worry about?

I'm so worried about what's happening in the Golden Triangle right now! First it was opium, then methamphetamine... how far will this go? The fact that Chinese mafia is involved makes me think there are even bigger players behind the scenes, like corrupt officials or something. This trade isn't just killing people on the streets, it's also funding a bloody civil war in Myanmar! It's crazy to think that the same cartels that used to be battling Mexican cartels are now taking over the Golden Triangle. We need to get our priorities straight and tackle this problem ASAP!

the golden triangle sounds like a real-life video game , but sadly, it's all too real. i mean, who needs opium when you can just make methamphetamine? it's crazy to think that chinese mafia is now involved in this mess, and the impact on myanmar is devastating. we need to address this ASAP, not just for the people affected but also for regional stability

I was just reading about the best food truck festivals and man, I'm totally craving some authentic street food now ! Have you guys ever been to a festival like that? They're always so lively and fun... and the smells ! But what's with all this methamphetamine production in the Golden Triangle? It's like, how did it even start? Wasn't opium the big deal back in the day? Anyway, I was thinking of trying out a new food delivery app later and saw they have some crazy deals on Asian fusion food . Does anyone know if that place serves good pad thai?

omg I cant even believe what's happening in the golden triangle now... like back in the day, we thought opium was a big deal but now it's all about methamphetamine and ketamine? and China is involved with the mafia?! that's wild it's crazy how fast the game changes and how some of these powerful players are still operating under the radar. And what's really worrying me is the impact on Myanmar... I mean, civil war and all that... we should be paying more attention to this situation and seeing if we can help in any way

"It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same... but with some really bad stuff now The Golden Triangle's transformation is a harsh reminder of how far we've fallen in our fight against the illicit drug trade."

just saw this article about the Golden Triangle and it's wild how far gone the opium production is... I mean, 700 tonnes of opium back in the day was crazy, but now it's like meth and ketamine taking over what's going on with these cartels and the Chinese mafia? It's like they're fueling this civil war in Myanmar and putting people's lives at risk... we need to know more about how to stop this trade and help those affected [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57443951]

man.. think about it... we're always talking about how the Golden Triangle was all about opium production back in the day... but what does that even say about our priorities? like, is we're always chasing the latest high, are we losing sight of what's really going on around us?

and now, methamphetamine has taken over... it's like a never-ending cycle of addiction and violence. and the Chinese mafia... that's just another level of complexity to this whole thing... it feels like no matter how hard we try to control things, they're always one step ahead

it's interesting to think about the role of the CIA in all this too... like, did we create these problems or was it already there? and what does this say about our relationship with power and corruption?

anyway, it just makes me wonder if we'll ever be able to truly dismantle this web of addiction and violence...

OMG, have you seen this? The Golden Triangle is like, literally a hotbed for dark secrets . I mean, it's not just opium anymore, it's methamphetamine and ketamine on steroids . And get this, the Chinese mafia is all up in here, fueling the fire . But what really gets me is how they're using these synthetic drugs to fund the civil war in Myanmar . It's like, they're playing a sick game of global politics, and we're just along for the ride . I'm not saying it's all one big conspiracy (although, it kinda feels that way ), but something fishy is definitely going on here...

Ugh , remember when the Golden Triangle was all about opium? Now it's like a meth lab explosion ! I mean, what happened to that good old fashioned opium trade? It's crazy how synthetic drugs took over and now China is involved with the mafia . In my day, we thought the CIA was just a spy agency, not some kind of drug cartel enabler . And now it's like Myanmar's civil war is all funded by this new meth trade... it's just too much . The world has changed so fast!

I'm like super worried about the Golden Triangle situation . I mean, opium was one thing, but methamphetamine is a whole different level of crazy . It's wild that the Chinese mafia has got such a strong presence there now, it feels like they're pulling the strings from behind the scenes . And the fact that it's funding this civil war in Myanmar? That's just devastating . I'm all for tackling these issues, but we need to be smart about how we approach it too . Can't just sweep this under the rug and expect everything to magically fix itself . We need to get a handle on this ASAP and make sure we're not enabling any more of this destructive stuff .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how far the Golden Triangle has fallen from its opium days . I mean, who would've thought that China's mafia would get involved in something like this? It's crazy how global supply chains can shift so quickly and fund conflicts on a massive scale

OMG, you guys!!! I'm literally shook by the fact that the Golden Triangle is now all about methamphetamine production ! It's crazy to think that just decades ago, it was all about opium . And now, the Chinese mafia is like, totally in charge . The impact on Myanmar is super concerning, tbh . Like, we all know how unstable the country is after the 2021 military coup . It's not cool that this new illicit industry is fueling more chaos and putting lives at risk . We need to stay vigilant about this whole situation and see what can be done to stop it! #JusticeForMyanmar #MethamphetamineEpidemic #GlobalSecurityMatters

I'm like totally worried about what's going on in that Golden Triangle region . It's crazy to think how much has changed since the opium days, and now it's all about methamphetamine and ketamine? I remember when I was young and people used to talk about this stuff, it seemed so far away, like a movie set or something... Fast forward to 2025 and it's a major issue . The Chinese mafia is involved, which adds another level of complexity. I'm all for cracking down on these cartels, but at the same time, you gotta wonder how this whole thing started in the first place... What were they thinking? All this synthetic stuff is making me anxious just thinking about it . We need to get a handle on this ASAP before it's too late.

thinkin about this golden triangle thingy... it's like how our perception of a place changes with time... it used to be opium all the way, but now meth's where it's at, yeah? what does that say about us as humans, that we're always chasing the next high, the next thrill? and who benefits from this chaos? the chinese mafia, for one. they're like these shadowy figures, pulling strings from behind the scenes... it's a wild ride, this illicit drug trade thing... so much destruction, so many lives lost... but at the same time, it's also like, human nature, right? we're all about desire and excess...

this golden triangle thingy is wild china's mafia has taken over and now they're cooking up all sorts of synthetic drugs like meth and ketamine... it's crazy how much power these guys have, especially when you consider they're making more than the mexican cartels! meanwhile the people caught in the middle are suffering and myanmar is just being used as a battleground for their civil war... it's super complicated and scary what's crazy is how much money this stuff makes and how it can fuel conflict all over again

I'm so over these news articles that just go on and on about how bad everything is. Can't they talk about something new for once? Like, yeah we get it, there's a lot of problems with methamphetamine production in the Golden Triangle. Who didn't already know that? It feels like every single article is just repeating the same old story. Where are the solutions? How can people affected by this actually get some help or something? I mean, I guess it's good that the journalists are doing their job and all but can't they give us a break from the drama?

OMG u wont believe wht's happnin in th golden triangle ! its like from opium to meth amphetamine production overnight . i mean, i used 2 think its all about heroin but now its all about that synthetic stuff and chinese mafia is gettin rich off it . and u know wht's even crazier? it funds the civil war in myanmar . i was talkin 2 my friend from thailand n she said her cousin's brother got caught up in makin meth in the jungle . its like, whats goin on here?! how does this happen? . i just hope the gov can do somethin about it bc its affectin so many ppl