Seized drugs to be burnt are seen in Yangon, Myanmar, June 26, 2023. Myanmar destroyed more than 446.05 million U.S. dollar worth of narcotic drugs seized from around the country to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Monday, police said. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)
YANGON, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar destroyed more than 446.05 million U.S. dollar worth of narcotic drugs seized from around the country to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Monday, police said.
The seized illegal drugs and precursor chemicals were ceremonially burnt in the Southeast Asian country's three major cities of Yangon, Mandalay, and Taunggyi, it said.
The country's authorities destroyed 36 kinds of narcotic drugs worth over 207.83 million dollars in Yangon, 34 kinds of drugs worth over 69.04 million dollars in Mandalay, and 75 kinds of drugs worth over 169.17 million dollars in Taunggyi respectively.
Last year, narcotic drugs and precursor chemicals worth over 642 million dollars were also burnt in the three places.
The destroyed drugs included heroin, opium, stimulant tablets, methamphetamine, cannabis, ketamine, and ecstasy among others.
Home Affairs Minister Lieutenant General Soe Htut, in his capacity as Chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC), said in his message that Myanmar has been taking consistent measures with a balanced approach to address the drug problem that is obstructing the development efforts of the country.
In order to address the problem of opium poppy cultivation, production, and demand for synthetic drugs in Myanmar, the CCDAC has formed working groups to carry out its respective tasks, he said.
Myanmar has also adopted a National Drug Control Strategy which is in line with current resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, he added. ■
Seized drugs to be burnt are seen in Yangon, Myanmar, June 26, 2023. Myanmar destroyed more than 446.05 million U.S. dollar worth of narcotic drugs seized from around the country to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Monday, police said. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)
Seized drugs are burnt in Yangon, Myanmar, June 26, 2023. Myanmar destroyed more than 446.05 million U.S. dollar worth of narcotic drugs seized from around the country to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Monday, police said. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)
Seized drugs are burnt in Yangon, Myanmar, June 26, 2023. Myanmar destroyed more than 446.05 million U.S. dollar worth of narcotic drugs seized from around the country to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Monday, police said. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)
