Thailand burns 6 tonnes of contraband drugs, worth Bt7.4 billion
TNA 2011-06-25
BANGKOK, June 25 – Thailand on Friday burned nearly six tonnes -- 5,844kg -- of illegal drugs, worth an estimated Bt7.4 billion on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Day.
Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit presided over the incineration of drugs for international anti-drug day, which falls on June 26. Thailand’s 39th burning of the proscribed drugs in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.
Burned at the Bangpa-in Industrial Estate on Friday, the illegal drugs included nearly two tonnes (1,997kg or 22 million pills) of methamphetamines, 248kg of heroin, 23kg of crystal methamphetamine (ice), about 8kg of ecstasy, 7kg of cocaine, 72kg of opium, 56kg of codeine, and 3.5 tonnes ( 3,418kg) marijuana.
The drugs were incinerated at high temperatures (over 850 degrees Celcius) which causes no air pollution.
From Oct 1 last year to April 4 this year nearly 55,000 drug addicts received treatment, the minister said. Most, he said, some 83 per cent, were addicted to methamphetamines.
Of all addicts receiving treatment, one-third are young people aged 18-24 years. The minister expressed concern regarding the next younger group aged 7-17, as the numbers in this group tend to rise. (MCOT online news)
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