The Drug Dealer Queen

Added: 2026-05-07

In the early 1800s, Britain faced a trade deficit with China, which only accepted silver for goods like tea and silk. To reverse this, Britain grew opium in India, smuggled it to China, and when Chinese officials tried to stop it, Britain responded with military force, defeating China in the Opium Wars and forcing open its ports. This led to the legalization and massive expansion of opium production to around 6 million kilos annually, making Queen Victoria the largest drug dealer in history.