Myanmar’s illicit trade stands at USD 6.4 billion. During the first-ever Illicit Trade Forum held on February 3rd and 4th in Geneva, U Than Myint, the country’s minister of commerce, said that this figure is still “just the tip of the iceberg”. For reference, Myanmar’s GDP as of 2018 is approximately 70 billion in current USD (World Bank).

The event convened by UNCTAD and the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) brought together various actors to address this alarming problem that drains more than USD 2 trillion from the global economy annually.

The USD 6.4 billion figure only reflects trade on official routes between Myanmar and its neighbouring countries. Long borderlines, insecurity and weak capacity make it difficult for Myanmar authorities to effectively control illicit trade, which includes wildlife trafficking, smuggling of alcohol and tobacco.

Mizzima reported that the country produces jade worth between USD 12 billion and USD 31 billion every year, but that up to 80 percent is smuggled out of the country.

Another example is beer. In November 2017, research firm Euromonitor International estimated that around 30 percent of all beer sold in Myanmar by volume was smuggled. Although Myanmar records no beer imports, Thai customs data shows that the country exports beer worth tens of millions of dollars to Myanmar each year.