The Methamphetamine Trade in Myanmar, Part 1 Featuring Patrick Winn

How has the methamphetamine trade allowed one region of Myanmar to remain stable while most of the country descends into chaos? In this episode of Crime Beat Conversations, investigative journalist Patrick Winn and I explore the complex dynamics of Wa State, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Myanmar. Despite the political turmoil following Myanmar’s military coup, Wa State has maintained remarkable stability – largely due to its massive methamphetamine production operations and strategic relationship with Beijing.

In this multi-part series with Winn, we go beyond the estimated numbers and seizure statistics to uncover how narcotics are deeply embedded in the political economy of Wa State. Winn breaks down how drug proceeds have insulated the region from the chaos affecting the rest of Myanmar, revealing the intricate connections between organized crime, geopolitics, and regional power structures in one of the world’s most significant meth-producing territories.