The Golden Triangle (Burma, Laos, Thailand) is the world’s largest source of opium, but the crop has been hit by drought for three years in a row. Burma plants more opium poppies than any other country, but its output has fallen below Afghanistan’s because of lower productivity. Much of the Burmese opium industry is in the hands of ethnic insurgents, whom the country’s military rulers are powerless to control. However, US officials say ceasefire agreements with the rebels imply a degree of official tolerance towards the illicit trade.
