Myanmar authorities incinerated nearly $300 million worth of confiscated illegal drugs in major cities, including Yangon, Mandalay, and Taunggyi, to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The destroyed substances, valued at approximately $297.95 million, included opium, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, ketamine, and crystal meth, according to Yangon Police Brig. Gen. Sein Lwin.
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The high-profile burnings come amid growing concerns from U.N. experts about unprecedented levels of methamphetamine production and trafficking in Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle, particularly in Myanmar’s eastern Shan State.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) identified Myanmar as the world’s largest opium producer in 2023.
The country plays a persistent role as a major hub for illegal drugs destined for East and Southeast Asia, as well as South Asia, including Northeast India.