Thailand's Far North Battles Drug Smuggling Along Myanmar Border
A wave of drug smuggling has crashed upon villages along northern Thailand's border with Myanmar. But there are those who are fighting back, and even helping the most vulnerable people in the region build new lives.
The Drug Crisis in Thailand’s Golden Triangle
REPORTER:
Jawa Jobo lies on the ground as a religious leader conducts a cleansing ceremony. 70 years old, he is back on opium—driven to an escape from the intensely hard work on his coffee farm and from his marriage problems. He finds religion helps as he fights addiction. But there are many more in need of help in this part of northern Thailand’s hill country, right on the Myanmar border.
REPORTER:
This part of Asia—the so-called “Golden Triangle”—has a long history of opium production. For indigenous people here, it was a lifeline in a place where soil is poor and government control weak.
REPORTER:
But it’s not just opium anymore. Hard drugs in general have exploded through the region, especially since neighboring Myanmar fell into civil war in 2021. The military and armed groups around the country stand accused of profiting from drugs—using them as a source of funding. And there’s plenty of organized crime in the region, too.
REPORTER:
Methamphetamine is among the best sellers smuggled over the border into Thailand—where it takes a heavy toll. Researchers have found drug use tripled in Thailand’s north over five years. Among the hardest hit are indigenous groups like the Lahu—around 300,000 people on both sides of this stretch of border.
Sila Jahae (PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LAHU ASSOC.):
Some people face factors such as poverty, and secondly, the problem of limited access to agricultural land, because some have nothing to eat if they don't take on jobs transporting drugs.
REPORTER:
Many on the Thai side of the border don’t speak the Thai language, further limiting opportunities. Drugs are a fast and easy source of income, whether producing opium or working as a smuggler—but with supply comes addiction in the communities the drugs pass through.
REPORTER:
Thailand is trying to stop the flow. Captain Kehtsopon Nopsiri is on the hunt for smugglers. He leads an army patrol through the misty border forest. Encounters, including clashes, are common: his unit battled traffickers four times in November alone. He sees more challenges ahead.
Khetsopon Nopsiri (COMMANDER, 2nd CAVALRY COMPANY, TASK FORCE THAP CHAO TAK):
The trend of drug trafficking into the country is likely to increase due to faster production methods using chemicals, whereas in the past opium plants were used.
REPORTER:
But the battle against the tide of drugs in this part of Thailand isn’t just about law enforcement. It’s about helping the region’s young people discover futures they may never have thought possible. NGOs like “With Loving Hearts” offer emotional support and Thai language lessons—and the results can be life-changing.
REPORTER:
19-year-old Sitthikorn Palor dropped out of school—and worked as a meth courier, just like the stepfather who raised him. But “With Loving Hearts” got to him in time. One of the co-founder's husbands was an especially big influence.
Sitthikorn Palor (FORMER DRUG TRAFFICKER):
[He] supported me a lot. I listened to what he said. At first, I'm usually someone who doesn't listen to anyone, but after Maitri spoke to me, I listened and stopped what I was doing.
REPORTER:
He’s doing farm work for now, and dreams of opening up a car repair shop. His modified motorcycle, built from spare parts, shows the promise he already has.
REPORTER:
People like him may only be a small part of a big picture—along with those who help deliver drugs are a ballooning number of users. Nearly 300,000 people in Thailand’s northernmost provinces used hard drugs at least once in 2024, according to research published by Chiang Mai University. But there are people here who are not about to see their hometowns overrun—and who aren’t willing to give up on people quite so easily.
