§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much(a) heroin and (b) methamphetamine he predicts will be produced by Burma this year; and how much he estimates will reach the UK. [140919]
§ Mr. RammellThe United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that 81,400 hectares of land were utilised for opium production in Burma in 2002. The UNODC figures for 2003 are not yet confirmed and initial indications suggest that they may show little overall change from 2002.
Burma is believed by UNODC to be one of the largest producers of methamphetamines in the world.
Despite Burma being a major producer of heroin and methamphetamines, there is no evidence that either of these substances is trafficked to the UK in significant quantities from Burma.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the involvement of the Burmese Junta in(a) heroin and (b) methamphetamine production and export, with particular reference to the new factory 15 miles west of Maeken.[140920]
§ Mr. RammellThere are reports that some production and trafficking of opium from Burma is carried out with the knowledge of the Burmese authorities. The Burmese authorities' overall response to the continued production and export of heroin and methamphetamines has been limited. According to figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Burma is the world's second largest source of heroin and one of the largest sources of methamphetamines.
421WI have no specific information relating to a methamphetamine production facility near Maeken, although I am aware that UNODC reports indicate that such facilities exist in Burma.