Reversing a steady decline that was seen in the Opium cultivation between 2014 and 2020, the illicit crop growing has surged in Myanmar since the military seized the power in 2021 and this is according to the United Nations in its annual Opium survey for 2022.

Myanmar: Opium cultivation surges, 65% rise in opium yield in 2 years

A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) showed that opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar surged in 2022 reaching the highest-ever estimates since they started measuring it nine years ago.

UN survey shows opium production in Myanmar surged to a nine-year high in 2022

The Cranfield University in the United Kingdom said on Monday that their researchers are helping the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) powered programme that would monitor the crops used for illicit opium production in Afghanistan.

UK university helps UN develop AI programme to monitor Afghanistan’s opium cultivation

In Australia’s Hobart, a flower grower's new line of "really beautiful poppies" turned out to be opium poppies instead. Kate Dixon, who operates a commercial flower farm at Hobart's Clifton beach, said she received a call from the authorities earlier this month after they saw a photo of her frilly pink poppies on Instagram.

Australia: Authorities destroy flower grower’s ‘really beautiful poppies’, planted by ‘mistake’

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