Following the sustained collapse of Afghan poppy cultivation and the ongoing domestic displacement caused by the civil war, Myanmar has firmly re-established itself as the world’s primary source of illicit opium. However, the "Opium Peak" of 2026 is defined less by traditional farming and more by a sophisticated supply chain evolution.

Focus: Why did poppy cultivation expand into new regions like Sagaing and Chin State as a survival strategy for conflict-affected farmers?

Myanmar’s border zones remain major transit points for the illegal trade of jade, rare-earth minerals, and endangered species, often used as "taxation" by both the military and armed groups.

The Focus: How illicit logging and mining concessions fund the purchase of advanced weaponry (drones and loitering munitions).