Where are the four major drug producing areas in the world? What is the "Golden Triangle"

1 Golden Triangle

The "Golden Triangle" refers to a triangular area located on the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos in Southeast Asia. Because this area is rich in opium and other drugs, it is It is the world's main drug producing area and is famous as the "Golden Triangle". The "Golden Triangle" includes Shan State and Kachin State in northern Myanmar, Chiang Rai Province and northern Chiang Mai Province in Thailand, Luang Namtha Province, Phongsaly, Oudomxay Province in Laos, and western Luang Prabang Province. , there are more than 3,000 villages and towns in the country. The total area is 194,000 square kilometers.

Since most of the "Golden Triangle" areas are located in high mountains with an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, the climate is hot, the rainfall is abundant, and the soil is fertile, which is very suitable for the growth of poppies. In addition, there are dense jungles, rugged roads, and difficult traffic. Being isolated and beyond the reach of the Three Kingdoms, it provided unique political, economic, geographical, and climatic conditions for growing poppy.

Taken on November 4, 2005, a hotel located in the jungle in Chiang Saen County, northern Thailand. Chiang Saen County is located on the Thai side of the "Golden Triangle", a famous drug source in the past. Since the implementation of the alternative planting policy, local poppy cultivation has dropped significantly. In order to help local farmers find employment, relevant Thai departments have also vigorously promoted the development of tourism, and now it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions for foreign tourists. By the 1960s, it had become one of the four major drug producing areas in the world famous for its opium production. It had become a golden zone for opium cultivation, refining, trafficking and smuggling. Many anti-Japanese armed forces and other drug armed forces have been active here for a long time, so it is also known as the "Adventurer's Paradise".

2 Golden Crescent

The "Golden Crescent" is located at the junction of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. The moon is also called the "Golden Crescent" because it is rich in opium, a highly profitable drug. The "Golden Crescent" region includes Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province and Baluchistan Province, Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan Province, and Afghanistan's Registan and Nuristan.

The "Golden Crescent" area has a sparse population, inconvenient transportation, and a dry climate. It is mainly inhabited by the Pathan and Baluch ethnic groups, who are known for their martial arts and fierceness. For a long time, they have maintained their traditional national style and personality and traveled relatively freely across the borders of the three countries. The three countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran have not implemented effective administrative management of it, allowing the region to develop into a major opium producing area in the world.

In the late 1970s, due to drought, the opium harvest in the "Golden Triangle" region of Southeast Asia was poor. The supply of heroin and other drugs on the black market exceeded demand, and prices skyrocketed. At this time, opium growers in the "Golden Crescent" seized the good opportunity of rising drug prices, expanded their planting area, and entered the traditional overseas markets of the "Golden Triangle." It is an important producer of opioid drugs in the world that emerged after the "Golden Triangle".

In 1981, the opium production in the "Golden Crescent" region reached more than 800 tons, twice the total opium production in the "Golden Triangle" and Mexico that year. However, since 1986, opium production in the "Golden Triangle" has rapidly recovered and output has increased dramatically, once again replacing the "Golden Crescent" as the world's number one producer of heroin. Despite this, the opium production in the "Golden Crescent" is still developing rapidly, and it has always maintained its second place in opium and heroin production.

At the end of the 20th century, due to ethnic conflicts, religious conflicts, wars and other reasons, the "Golden Crescent" drug economic circle rose again, making it replace the "Golden Triangle" and become the world's largest producer of opium drugs.

The poppy cultivation area in "Golden Crescent" reaches about 110,000 hectares, and the annual opium output has remained between 3,000 tons and 4,000 tons. According to United Nations statistics, the "Golden Crescent" opium production reached 3,600 tons in 2003, and is expected to exceed 4,000 tons in 2004. In addition to producing opium and heroin, it also produces marijuana and cocaine. In addition, it is the gateway to Europe and the United States. Drugs can be transported to Europe and the United States from Turkey, Pakistan and Iran. The "Golden Crescent" has now become a link and land bridge connecting the drug trade between Europe and Asia.

3 Silver Triangle

The "Silver Triangle" Latin America region: its center is Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. Among them, the approximately 50 kilometers of the Amazon region that borders Ecuador and Colombia is the central area controlled by Colombian drug traffickers. The situation is similar to the "Golden Triangle" in Asia, which is also known as the "Golden Triangle" in South America. In this region, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia are the main coca-growing and cocaine-producing countries. The "World Drug Report: 1997" published by the United Nations reports that the production of cocaine in the above three countries exceeds 98% of the global total. The global coca leaf planting area is 220,000 hectares, of which Peru accounts for 1/2, and Colombia and Bolivia each account for 1/2. /4.

4 Black Triangle

The "Black Triangle" is a drug base in Africa, including the border areas of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sudan and South Africa. Its flagship product is cannabis.

Cannabis is the main drug grown, trafficked and abused in Africa. The cannabis cultivation area in South Africa alone exceeds 82,000 hectares.

In addition, Africa is also the main transit point for the world's drug trafficking activities, and Morocco is the main distribution center for shipping cannabis from Africa to the European drug market. Whether it is cannabis from Africa's "Black Triangle" or opium, heroin and other drugs from Asia's "Golden Triangle" and "Golden Crescent", they are all shipped to Europe in large quantities through seaports, airports and highways in many African countries. and the rest of the world.