---
category: Region
summary: The Golden Triangle is a region in Southeast Asia, primarily encompassing
  parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, historically known as one of the world's largest
  opium-producing areas.
tags:
- Region
- SoutheastAsia
- DrugTrafficking
- Opium
- Myanmar
---

The [Golden Triangle](/places/golden-triangle/) is a region in Southeast Asia, primarily encompassing parts of Myanmar, [Laos](/places/laos/), and [Thailand](/places/thailand/), historically known as one of the world's largest opium-producing areas. It has been a significant hub for drug trafficking, particularly heroin, and has been linked to various intelligence operations and covert activities.[^1]

[Danny Casolaro](/people/danny-casolaro/)'s investigation into "[The Octopus](/concepts/the-octopus/)" included a focus on the Golden Triangle's drug trade. He was investigating [Bo Gritz](/people/bo-gritz/)'s expose of [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) drug trafficking in the region and sought information on Laotian warlord [Kuhn Sa](/people/kuhn-sa/)'s Golden Triangle drug trade proposal to the [United States](/places/united-states/).[^1]

[Robert Booth Nichols](/people/robert-booth-nichols/)' name was associated with the illegal transportation of narcotics through the Golden Triangle, and this connection tied into Casolaro's final inquiry. [Michael Hand](/people/michael-hand/), co-founder of [Nugan Hand Bank](/organizations/nugan-hand-bank/), and [Bo Gritz](/people/bo-gritz/), both highly decorated Special Forces Green Berets in [Vietnam](/places/vietnam/), had special knowledge of intelligence operations in the Golden Triangle.[^1]

[Nugan Hand Bank](/organizations/nugan-hand-bank/), a primary [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) operation in the Pacific area, reportedly laundered profits from drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle. These laundered profits, in turn, financed subversive paramilitary activities in Southeast Asia. The bank collapsed in 1980, $5 billion in debt, and [Michael Hand](/people/michael-hand/) disappeared.[^1]

[Allan Boyak](/people/allan-boyak/), an attorney, described [Robert Booth Nichols](/people/robert-booth-nichols/)' rum importing business as a cover for large-scale heroin trafficking from the Golden Triangle.[^1]

---

[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.