Reports coming from the border say opium prices have been on the downside even as the output has been reduced by adverse weather conditions.

In Mongton (opposite Chiangmai), it is 25,000 baht ($780) down from up to 40,000 baht ($1,250) last year. In Panglong and Namzang, it is 650,000 kyat ($650), down from 700,000-750,000 kyat ($700-750) during the previous year.

“The reason is there are few buyers,” said a source close to a government: established People’s Militia Force (FMF) in Namzang, Loilem district. “The group was notified by the Burma Army that Naypyitaw wants their refining activities suspended for the time being.”

The PMFs, since the Burma Army’s crackdown on the United Wa State Army (UWSA)’s drug operations in 2005, have emerged as main beneficiaries as outside investors began moving their refineries and assets into areas under the PMF control.

However the government began launching operations against the PMFs’ drug activities during the past few months. Areas under the control of big names like Ai long and Ja Ngoi of Punako PMF in Monghsat township and Yishay of Nampong PMF in Tachilek township, both opposite Chiangrai, were raided. “The PMF leaders were informed in advance of the planned raids though,” said a local source. “So there were only token losses.”

All the PMF leaders, well known by Thai drug enforcement, have been left untouched. “The PMFs are now looking for new refinery sites,” he said. “In the meanwhile they don’t want to burden themselves with security over the new harvest.”

According to sources in southern Shan State there have been significant increase in the cultivation. On the contrary, there has been a decrease in the north due to increased fighting between the Burma Army and the Kachin-Shan-Ta’ang-Kokang alliance.

“Farmers don’t dare visit their rice and corn fields, let alone growing poppies,” said a local source. “So there will be many families getting enough food to feed themselves.”

The weather has not been favorable either even for legal crops. “There had been a lot of dry stretches during the rainy season,” said a farmer in Panglong. “And just before the harvest, there came a big downpour  that destroyed a lot of fields including mine.”

Meanwhile the 4 Mekong countries: China, Laos, Burma and Thailand will be establishing a joint center in Chiangmai next month to tackle with the drug trade on the Mekong, reported Bangkok Post on Sunday, 14 December.