# Myanmar’s Shan State Meth Lab

> Myanmar’s Shan state produces global meth supply amid regional drug trade surge.
- Title: Myanmar’s Shan State Meth Lab · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: Myanmar’s Shan state produces global meth supply amid regional drug trade surge. Myanmar’s Shan state is the world’s largest meth producer, with annual sales…
- Keywords: myanmar, shan state, meth, unodc, drug trade, seoul, golden triangle, illicit drugs, seattle, nfl, Shan, State
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/21/myanmar-shan-state-meth-drugs
- Author: Joseph Rachman
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: myanmar, shan state, meth, unodc, drug trade, seoul, golden triangle, illicit drugs, seattle, nfl
## Meth Boom in Shan State
Myanmar’s Shan state produces the world’s largest meth supply, with annual sales reaching $48.1-$74.8 billion.
## Global Meth Trade Expansion
Drug markets have grown larger since 2019, with criminal syndicates operating in ever more sophisticated ways.
## Meth Production Methods
Meth is produced in industrial-scale labs using precursor chemicals not subject to legal controls.
## Drug Diversity in Shan State
Shan state produces ketamine, MDMA, etomidate, and 'happy water' alongside meth.
## Smuggling Routes
Drugs are smuggled to Thailand, Laos, India, and global markets through Yangon port.
## China’s Role in Drug Trade
China tolerates foreign criminal syndicates as long as its citizens are unaffected.
## Myanmar Junta and Tokyo
Myanmar junta representatives marched on Tokyo in early October for talks with U.S. officials.
## Indonesia Stock Crash
Indonesia’s stock market dropped 11.57 percent, its worst crash since 1.998.
## MSCI Downgrade Threat
MSCI considered downgrading Indonesia to a 'frontier' market due to stock exchange fraud.
## Vietnam EU Visit
Vietnam’s To Lam began a six-day EU visit to strengthen trade ties with the bloc.
## Drug Trade and Scams
Meth syndicates are linked to scam centers and other criminal enterprises.
## Haze Crisis in Southeast Asia
Malaysia and Singapore react to transboundary haze from Indonesian forest fires.
## ASEAN Haze Response
ASEAN discusses haze assistance but Indonesia resists foreign help for forest fires.
## Shan State Drug Control
Myanmar military and rebel groups share control of Shan state drug production.
## Meth’s Global Reach
Myanmar meth has gone global through sophisticated smuggling networks.
## What’s Next for Drug Trade
Drug trade will continue to expand with China’s tacit tolerance and regional instability.
## Key takeaway

Myanmar’s Shan state is the world’s largest meth producer, with annual sales reaching $48.1-$74.8 billion.