Synthetic drug seizures hit record high, prices plummet across Southeast Asia: report

Thai policemen at a press conference showing seized methamphetamine pills in Bangkok. (Photo: AP)

Bangkok (People’s Daily) – The latest report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has revealed that methamphetamine production continues to skyrocket throughout Southeast Asia, and has now flooded markets in surrounding regions.

The UNODC report, “Synthetic Drugs in East and South-East Asia: Trends and Patterns of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and New Psychoactive Substances,” details significant developments and challenges in the regional drug trade.

Increases in production, trafficking, and usage have had a profound impact on market fluctuation and value.

Tun Nay Soe, UNODC Inter-regional Program Coordinator, explained that the new data on seizures and prices indicate an expanding methamphetamine market in the East and Southeast Asia regions.

“Aside from methamphetamine which is getting most of the attention because of the surge in seizures and street price drops, synthetic opioids and other drugs have also been found across the region,” said Jeremy Douglas, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Methamphetamine seizures reached record levels for 2018, while street prices plummeted throughout the region revealing an increase in availability.

“The volume of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs from the Golden Triangle to Thailand have reached unprecedented levels,” said Niyom Termsrisuk, Secretary General of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) of Thailand.

Last year alone over 115 tons of methamphetamine were seized in the Southeast Asian region, representing a three-fold increase since 2013, and well above the 82 tons reported in 2017.

Mekong Delta countries have reported the highest number of seizures. In Thailand, 515 million methamphetamine tablets were confiscated last year, almost 17 times higher than a decade ago.

“We will be discussing solutions with regional leaders when we host the Mekong MOU on Drug Control Ministerial Meeting in June of this year,” Termsrisuk said.