UN concerned by spread of meth in Asia

November 09, 2013

Comment | Print | Email |

Reset Text smaller

BANGKOK, Thailand – The United Nations sounded the alarm Friday (November 8th) over record seizures of methamphetamine, with the drug flooding streets and clubs in Asia and breeding a new generation of users, AFP reported.

Seized drugs burn during a destruction ceremony June 26th marking the UN's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Rangoon. The UN said Friday (November 8th) record seizures of yaba (methamphetamine) and soaring production in Burma combined to flood streets and clubs throughout Asia. [Ye Aung Thu/AFP]

Last year 227 million methamphetamine pills were seized in East and Southeast Asia – up 59% from the year before, and a more than seven-fold increase from 2008, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said.

UNODC regional analyst Shawn Kelley said data suggested the trend continued into 2013.

He said the "huge spike" was due to increased efforts by law enforcement agencies as well as soaring production in Burma and an increase in the smuggling of drugs into Asia from other regions.

Between them China, Thailand, Burma and Laos seized 99% of all yaba (meth pills) in East and Southeast Asia last year, according to the UNODC report.

The UN estimates that methamphetamine generate sales of about $16.5 billion in Southeast Asia and China annually.

In Thailand the use of methamphetamine has become a major public health issue, said Kelley, with signs that traffickers are pushing "promotional sales" of the more potent crystal meth to develop the market.