Myanmar's military has tightened its grip on the jade industry, report says

Myanmar's military has such strong control over the country's jade trade that it would be "nearly impossible" to buy the gemstone without enriching the generals and their allies, a new report said Tuesday.

Myanmar produces about 70% of the world's jade, worth billions of dollars and fueled in large part by demand in neighboring China.
But the industry in Myanmar is wracked by conflict, corruption and environmentally destructive mining practices. Miners — often impoverished migrants who flock from other parts of the country — are at risk of death and injury from landslides. Exploitation, abuse and drug addiction are rife.
The new investigation "Jade and Conflict: Myanmar's Vicious Circle" from Global Witness, a nonprofit dedicated to investigating corruption and environmental abuse, found the military, known locally as the Tatmadaw, tightened its grip on the lucrative sector in the years leading up to its February 1 coup.