February 27, 2024

Tag: Opium

Harvested poppy capsules.

The Opium Trade in Thailand, 1940 – 1950

In the early stages of the Second World War (1939-1945) Thailand continued receiving its opium from countries like Iran and Turkey, but after the Thais sided with the Japanese Empire late in 1941, these markets were quickly cut off. In May 1942 the...

Akha Man With Opium Pipe

The Opium Trade in Thailand, 1908 – 1940

In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States, concerned about the worldwide trades in narcotics, lobbied the leaders of a number of European and Asian countries to create an International Opium Commission. This forum met in Shanghai...