Thai Drug Seizures Go Up in Smoke

Posted September 17th, 2011 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
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Thailand has found a way to make sure hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs never end up back on the streets, setting them on fire at a plant outside of Bangkok.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presided over the burning Saturday in Ayutthaya.

Officials said the narcotics came from more than 130,000 drug busts carried out across the country. The drugs included methamphetamines, heroin, opium, ecstasy and cocaine. Officials estimated they were worth at least $80 million.

Ms. Yingluck warned that more of Thailand's young people are becoming addicted to drugs and said she would make getting young addicts rehabilitation a top priority.

Thai health officials say almost 100,000 addicts have been treated at the country's rehabilitation centers over the last year.

The French news agency said the drugs were burned in a special incinerator designed to prevent air pollution.