STORY: Myanmar burns over 446 mln USD worth of seized narcotic drugs
DATELINE: June 27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:23
LOCATION: YANGON, Myanmar
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the drug burning ceremony in Yangon

STORYLINE:

Myanmar destroyed more than 446 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.
   
Myanmar's authorities destroyed 36 kinds of narcotic drugs worth nearly 208 million dollars in Yangon, 34 kinds of drugs worth over 69 million dollars in Mandalay, and 75 kinds of drugs worth over about 170 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.
   
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yangon, Myanmar.
(XHTV)