Thailand set to burn nine tonnes of illegal drugs

BANGKOK, June 23 (TNA) – Thailand is set o incinerate more than nine tonnes of illegal drugs to mark the World Drugs Day on Monday. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency tasked with illegal drug storage, today opened the warehouse for inspection by officials of the Narcotics Control Board. The FDA Secretary General Dr Wanchai Sattayawuthipong said the planned burning will take place at the Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya on June 26, the United Nations' International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The total of 9.3 tonnes of illegal drugs, confiscated from 6,546 cases will be destroyed, including 7.8 tonnes of methamphetamine, 1.1 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine or “ice” and 169 kg of heroin and 32 kg of raw opium. Another 55 tonnes of narcotics remain at the warehouse pending the judicial process. Moreover, Dr Wanchai also said that the construction of the new warehouse with the storage capacity of 110 tonnes of illegal drugs will be finished within three months. The amount of illegal drugs has been increasing due to more arrests and seizures, he said adding that however, the judicial process takes a long time as musch as three years for some cases. The FDA will propose for expedition of the process to be able to burn the narcotics more quickly. (END)