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Meth Road: A life-and-death investigation following the world's most destructive narcotic to Australia
A wild and dangerous ride from the world's main meth source, a lawless Asian narco-state, to its most valuable Australia.
When he received an SOS from a friend kidnapped in a dark corner of Asia, journalist Conor Woodman began a journey that would lead him to the most dangerous and least understood place on Wa State, a lawless enclave of Myanmar that neither the government nor the army dare to enter, and a hotbed of vice and corruption.
Conor embarks on a deadly undercover investigation to discover what is being cooked up in this far-flung jungle state. The answer is methamphetamine – tonnes of it. But where is the meth's final destination? Billions of dollars of it are shipped to Australia, the world's most lucrative drug market. The addicts have no idea that the burning rocks they crave have travelled 10,000 kilometres to fill their pipes.
In Australia, Conor looks beyond the terrifying statistics to discover a cast of cooks, dealers and users in ordinary neighbourhoods, trapped in the meth economy, and the cops, doctors and families fighting the world's most destructive narcotic.
Meth Road is the real Breaking Bad . It's a journey into a hidden and fascinating narco-state that is the world's main source of crystal meth, and a wild ride following the obscene wealth and destruction paving the drug's road into Australia.
'A courageous and compelling investigation.' Tom Gilling, bestselling author of Blood Money and Smack Express
When he received an SOS from a friend kidnapped in a dark corner of Asia, journalist Conor Woodman began a journey that would lead him to the most dangerous and least understood place on Wa State, a lawless enclave of Myanmar that neither the government nor the army dare to enter, and a hotbed of vice and corruption.
Conor embarks on a deadly undercover investigation to discover what is being cooked up in this far-flung jungle state. The answer is methamphetamine – tonnes of it. But where is the meth's final destination? Billions of dollars of it are shipped to Australia, the world's most lucrative drug market. The addicts have no idea that the burning rocks they crave have travelled 10,000 kilometres to fill their pipes.
In Australia, Conor looks beyond the terrifying statistics to discover a cast of cooks, dealers and users in ordinary neighbourhoods, trapped in the meth economy, and the cops, doctors and families fighting the world's most destructive narcotic.
Meth Road is the real Breaking Bad . It's a journey into a hidden and fascinating narco-state that is the world's main source of crystal meth, and a wild ride following the obscene wealth and destruction paving the drug's road into Australia.
'A courageous and compelling investigation.' Tom Gilling, bestselling author of Blood Money and Smack Express
304 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2023
20 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Conor Woodman
11 books22 followersConor has been a producer/reporter/presenter in factual television for many years (Scam City, Around the World in 80 Trades, Watchdog) and has written several books.
His latest book CALL TO KILL is his first novel, written with co-author Billy Billingham, star of C4's SAS : Who Dares Wins.
Prior to Call to Kill, Conor wrote The Adventure Capitalist (Pan Macmillan), which tells the story of how he left his job in the City, sold his London flat and embarked on a round-the-world trading adventure. Travelling through four continents over five months, he turned his hand to making a profit out of everything from camels in Sudan to inflatable surfboards in Mexico, to discover how real people make real money in real markets.
Conor's second book Unfair Trade deals with how ordinary people around the world survive at the bottom of the supply chain. By living alongside miners, farmers, factory workers and fishermen from Africa to Asia to Central America, Conor tells the stories of the real people on whom the global economy depends. Unfair Trade was long listed for the Orwell Prize.
His third book, The Scam Hunter takes us on a journey through the lawless backstreets of cities such as Mumbai, Bogota, New Orleans, Mexico City and Jerusalem as he uncovers the people and the crimes that keep the global black economy moving.
When not writing, Conor continues to make films and TV. True Appaloosa, his first feature length documentary film, premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival in 2015 and aired on BBC4 as 'The Secret Horse’ to wide critical acclaim.
His latest book CALL TO KILL is his first novel, written with co-author Billy Billingham, star of C4's SAS : Who Dares Wins.
Prior to Call to Kill, Conor wrote The Adventure Capitalist (Pan Macmillan), which tells the story of how he left his job in the City, sold his London flat and embarked on a round-the-world trading adventure. Travelling through four continents over five months, he turned his hand to making a profit out of everything from camels in Sudan to inflatable surfboards in Mexico, to discover how real people make real money in real markets.
Conor's second book Unfair Trade deals with how ordinary people around the world survive at the bottom of the supply chain. By living alongside miners, farmers, factory workers and fishermen from Africa to Asia to Central America, Conor tells the stories of the real people on whom the global economy depends. Unfair Trade was long listed for the Orwell Prize.
His third book, The Scam Hunter takes us on a journey through the lawless backstreets of cities such as Mumbai, Bogota, New Orleans, Mexico City and Jerusalem as he uncovers the people and the crimes that keep the global black economy moving.
When not writing, Conor continues to make films and TV. True Appaloosa, his first feature length documentary film, premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival in 2015 and aired on BBC4 as 'The Secret Horse’ to wide critical acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 26, 2023
‘The 2021-22 Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services annual report shows that for people receiving treatment for their own drug use, amphetamines were the principal drug of concern in 24% of treatment episodes.’ (Source: Home - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au)
‘The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has released the latest findings from its National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, revealing methylamphetamine [a synonym for methamphetamine] and cocaine consumption increased to the highest levels recorded since 2020’.
(Source ACIC 8/11/2023)
So, where does the methamphetamine come from? According to Mr Woodman, much of the methamphetamine that finds its way to Australia comes from the Wa State of Myanmar.
‘The idea that foreign powers could turn a blind eye to illegal activities in smaller states in the name of fighting a bigger cause is something that continues in Myanmar today.’
There’s nothing new in the world of state-sanctioned drug trades: students of history may recall the Opium Wars between China and Great Britain (and France) in the 19th century. They may also recall the growth of opium production in Afghanistan in the 20th century during the USA-influenced Afghan government.
And now we have methamphetamine. Highly addictive, highly destructive and with a lucrative market in Australia.
In this book, Mr Woodman (an Irish journalist) responding to an SOS from a friend began a journey the Wa state, where he discovered that tonnes of methamphetamine are cooked and shipped to Australia ‘the world’s most lucrative drug market’. In Australia, he looks at some of the cooks, dealers and users who live in ordinary neighbourhoods. In Myanmar, he investigates the supply and transport of this pernicious drug. The book examines supply of and demand for methamphetamine and explores some possible solutions.
I found the sections on supply and demand fascinating. I am less convinced about possible solutions, but I acknowledge that our current approach to ‘solving the problem’ is not working. Both methamphetamine and alcohol addicts can function quite effectively in society for a long time before their use gets out of control.
Can illicit drug use in society be destigmatised? Should it be? I’ll be watching the decriminalisation (in the ACT since end October 2023) of small amounts of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ice and MDMA with some interest. The change instead means people caught with small amounts of illicit drugs will attract a fine or be pointed towards drug counselling, rather than be handed a criminal penalty. Will it make a difference?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
‘The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has released the latest findings from its National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, revealing methylamphetamine [a synonym for methamphetamine] and cocaine consumption increased to the highest levels recorded since 2020’.
(Source ACIC 8/11/2023)
So, where does the methamphetamine come from? According to Mr Woodman, much of the methamphetamine that finds its way to Australia comes from the Wa State of Myanmar.
‘The idea that foreign powers could turn a blind eye to illegal activities in smaller states in the name of fighting a bigger cause is something that continues in Myanmar today.’
There’s nothing new in the world of state-sanctioned drug trades: students of history may recall the Opium Wars between China and Great Britain (and France) in the 19th century. They may also recall the growth of opium production in Afghanistan in the 20th century during the USA-influenced Afghan government.
And now we have methamphetamine. Highly addictive, highly destructive and with a lucrative market in Australia.
In this book, Mr Woodman (an Irish journalist) responding to an SOS from a friend began a journey the Wa state, where he discovered that tonnes of methamphetamine are cooked and shipped to Australia ‘the world’s most lucrative drug market’. In Australia, he looks at some of the cooks, dealers and users who live in ordinary neighbourhoods. In Myanmar, he investigates the supply and transport of this pernicious drug. The book examines supply of and demand for methamphetamine and explores some possible solutions.
I found the sections on supply and demand fascinating. I am less convinced about possible solutions, but I acknowledge that our current approach to ‘solving the problem’ is not working. Both methamphetamine and alcohol addicts can function quite effectively in society for a long time before their use gets out of control.
Can illicit drug use in society be destigmatised? Should it be? I’ll be watching the decriminalisation (in the ACT since end October 2023) of small amounts of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ice and MDMA with some interest. The change instead means people caught with small amounts of illicit drugs will attract a fine or be pointed towards drug counselling, rather than be handed a criminal penalty. Will it make a difference?
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 18, 2025
Great book focusing on a wide range of issues in Australia, in relation to mainly methamphetamine but touches on other drugs. I think it would be a beneficial read for people working in any industry who work with people who use.
May 14, 2025
great read, funny what he says about Australia not being as cool as the world thinks . I agree
December 9, 2024
Extremely fascinating perspective on the Australian meth trade coming from a non-Australian which gives an unbiased view of the general situation. The inevitable inability to actually see inside the meth facility is dissapointing yet expected.
descriptions of chemical processes, geographical references and statistics can often be hard to fully grasp, but once fully understood can provide a great deal of important perspective and information about the use and distribution of meth in our local communities and it's effects.
One can particularly appreciate human way meth users are presented by the author. Instead of non functional junkies with no place in society, interviews and case studies highlight how meth addiction affects good people, often the best of us, driving the point home about how prevention and rehabilitation should be approached. How as a culture we unfairly judge meth users to be, for lack of better words, insane and uncontrollable.
Woodmans criticisms of Australian law enforcement and medical industry and their attitude towards the drug is nuanced, well thought out and above all else correct, leaving the reader with a sense that change is needed by authorities to protect Australian communities. Change that is very clearly long overdue
descriptions of chemical processes, geographical references and statistics can often be hard to fully grasp, but once fully understood can provide a great deal of important perspective and information about the use and distribution of meth in our local communities and it's effects.
One can particularly appreciate human way meth users are presented by the author. Instead of non functional junkies with no place in society, interviews and case studies highlight how meth addiction affects good people, often the best of us, driving the point home about how prevention and rehabilitation should be approached. How as a culture we unfairly judge meth users to be, for lack of better words, insane and uncontrollable.
Woodmans criticisms of Australian law enforcement and medical industry and their attitude towards the drug is nuanced, well thought out and above all else correct, leaving the reader with a sense that change is needed by authorities to protect Australian communities. Change that is very clearly long overdue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2024
Our Review...
Investigative reporting right in the heart of the infamous Golden Triangle, ah the horror.
Conor Woodman explores the context of Meth in Australia and in doing so provides us with a first hand account of where the majority of meth is manufactured- the heavily disputed states of Myanmar.
Meth Road takes you inside a Chinese run casino in Laos, used as a clandestine trading post, a meth cooks kitchen on the Gold Coast and inside the politics of Meth in Australia.
Meth Road isn’t written through a lens of on line research and third hand accounts. Meth Road explores the dense humid jungle, littered with tarps, plastic drums and a fascinating relationship with China.
Similar to Chloe Hooper’s approach with a well balanced exploration.
Review by Simon (Partner of Katina) @ Great Escape Books
Investigative reporting right in the heart of the infamous Golden Triangle, ah the horror.
Conor Woodman explores the context of Meth in Australia and in doing so provides us with a first hand account of where the majority of meth is manufactured- the heavily disputed states of Myanmar.
Meth Road takes you inside a Chinese run casino in Laos, used as a clandestine trading post, a meth cooks kitchen on the Gold Coast and inside the politics of Meth in Australia.
Meth Road isn’t written through a lens of on line research and third hand accounts. Meth Road explores the dense humid jungle, littered with tarps, plastic drums and a fascinating relationship with China.
Similar to Chloe Hooper’s approach with a well balanced exploration.
Review by Simon (Partner of Katina) @ Great Escape Books
February 27, 2024
Interesting book. The first half was all about the commercialization of the meth trade and the routes the drug takes. The second about the possible solutions to the problems of addiction, and which in many ways was much more informative. Generally very critical about the current attitudes and policies around drug action, paticularly of local (state) police forces versus the AFP, though reminding us that we are all (the voters) guilty of stereotyping and kneejerk reactions. A classic case in the argument for facts over opinions in policy making!
December 28, 2025
"In individualised cultures, a drug that celebrates individualism is a perfect fit."
A very interesting read and a brilliant summary of the many parties contributing to Meth Road
A very interesting read and a brilliant summary of the many parties contributing to Meth Road
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews