Mong La Connection (2007)

Southeast Asia and especially the more affluent segments of society in China and Vietnam have become the major consumers of wildlife products, being sold as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Mong La is a small enclave at the China-Myanmar border. The region was given autonomy at the time the Central authority in Yangon decided it was easier to do that than to constantly fight the various tribal groups in the north of the country. An ex-drug lord took over the government and today Mong La is much more part of China than Myanmar; what God and laws forbids in China is practiced just a short walk across the border. Gambling is the big money maker, prostitution is very visible, the drug trade is still very active and of course the wildlife trade is out of control, not only in terms of bush meat served in specialty restaurants, but also a lot of traditional Chinese medicinal products and a large-scale bear bile farm.