Flames and smoke rise from burning illegal drugs during a destruction ceremony to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking outside Yangon, Myanmar, Friday, June 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:35 AM PT — Saturday, June 27, 2020
Authorities in Thailand and Myanmar have incinerated more than $2 billion worth of trafficked drugs. On Friday, Bangkok officials burned 25 tons of confiscated illicit drugs to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking.
Thailand is a hub for illegal drug trafficking and distribution. Products are routinely smuggled via shipping containers and passenger luggage.
“The main drugs that we see coming out from the Mekong area and in this region is methamphetamine. In years gone by, it’s been heroin. Certainly, in Australia there was a lot of consumption in heroin. But what we are seeing now is much more methamphetamine consumption in Australia now.” – Stephen Fry, Australia Federal Police
Policemen, some wearing personal protective equipments, stand guard seized illegal drugs before buring them during a destruction ceremony to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking outside Yangon, Myanmar, Friday, June 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
Myanmar is also a major hot spot in drug trafficking for East and Southeast Asia. It borders five different countries, including India and Vietnam.
According to officials, insurgent armies have been using the drug traffic to help bankroll their operations. Some critics have accused the government of assisting these armies to help generate revenue within the region.
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