MYANMAR’S ORGANIZED CRIME EPIDEMIC: A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR THE WORLD

Chaos and Crime in Myanmar: Three Years After the Coup

Myanmar, now three years since its military coup, has slid into chaos, with organized crime surging to unprecedented levels. According to the 2023 Global Organized Crime Index, Myanmar holds the dubious distinction of being the world’s most crime-ridden nation, with a score of 8.15 out of 10.

A Shift in Resilience: From Vulnerability to Collapse

The index reveals that Myanmar’s resilience to organized crime has weakened significantly since its low ranking in 2021, with a gap between its criminality and resilience scores so large that it has no meaningful global comparator. The country’s ability to resist and withstand organized crime has plummeted, with a score of 1.63 out of 10, making it one of the most vulnerable nations in the world.

Key Findings from the Report

• Non-renewable resource crimes: Rare earth mining has surged after the 2021 coup, with a significant increase in non-renewable resource crimes.
• Human trafficking: Forced labor and trafficking for forced criminality and marriage have become more prevalent, with human trafficking cases skyrocketing.
• Foreign actors: The presence of foreign actors, particularly Chinese nationals, operating in the country’s criminal markets has increased dramatically.
• State-embedded actors: State-embedded actors are now facilitators in Myanmar’s drug markets, where synthetic drugs dominate.

Cybercrime and the Conflict

The index also notes that the conflict in Myanmar has not only increased vulnerability but has fueled crime and enabled new illicit markets to consolidate. The country scores 7.5 for cyber-dependent crimes market, with cyberscam centers springing up across the nation, facilitated by state-embedded and Chinese actors.

A Call to Action

The report concludes that the situation in Myanmar is a canary in the coal mine for the world, highlighting the urgent need for governments and civil society practitioners to address the country’s acute diplomatic attention and rapid redirection of aid and programming efforts. The absence of scrutiny in Myanmar has contributed to the widening and deepening of the country’s crime-resilience gap, allowing rising criminality to have reach and impact far beyond its borders.

Conclusion

As the world grapples with the challenges of organized crime, the situation in Myanmar serves as a stark reminder of the need for innovative solutions and a concerted effort to address state-embedded criminality while supporting community resilience. The 2023 Global Organized Crime Index’s findings are a wake-up call for policymakers, governments, and civil society practitioners alike, emphasizing the imperative to prioritize Myanmar’s crisis and tackle the root causes of its organized crime epidemic.