UN Office on Drugs and Crime says ‘explosive growth’ in synthetic drug trade led to record seizures of methamphetamine in East and Southeast Asia in 2024.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported a record seizure of 236 tonnes of methamphetamine in East and Southeast Asia in 2024, a 24% increase from the previous year, largely driven by drug production in Myanmar’s Shan State. Thailand led the region with over 130 tonnes seized, while trafficking routes through Laos and Cambodia are expanding. The report highlights a concerning rise in older drug users and calls for increased investment in prevention and supply reduction strategies amid ongoing challenges from transnational drug gangs.
