pandorabox9|Cambodia burns down multi-million USD worth of seized narcotics, precursor chemicals

Officials set fire to the illicit drugs at a ceremony held at an incinerator on the northern outskirts of the capital Phnom Penhpandorabox9, Cambodia on June 14, 2024. Cambodia on Friday destroyed multi-million U.S. dollars worth of narcotics and precursor chemicals seized from across the Southeast Asian country, officials said. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Friday destroyed multi-million U.S. dollars worth of narcotics and precursor chemicals seized from across the Southeast Asian country, officials said.

Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, set fire to the illicit drugs and precursor chemicals at a ceremony held at an incinerator on the northern outskirts of the capital Phnom Penh.

He said the drug destruction was made to celebrate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed annually on June 26.

"A total of 4.1 tons of illicit drugs, with a trafficking market value of about 22.7 million U.S. dollars, was burned down at this event," he told reporters. "With this amount of illicit drugs, if sold to users, they cost between 67 and 68 million dollars."

"This amount of seized drugs, if not timely confiscated, would adversely affect millions of people," Vyrith said.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court's prosecutor Chreng Khmao said those destroyed drugs included heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine, nimetazepam, cocaine, and dry marijuana.

Besides the illicit drugs, a total of 3.25 tons of precursor chemicals was also burned down at the event, he said.

According to the Anti-Drug Police Department, Cambodia nabbed 9,369 drug-related suspects, including 324 foreigners, during the January-May period of 2024, seizing a total of 4.71 tons of narcotics.

The kingdom has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of drugs could be jailed for life.■

Anti-drug officials test methamphetamine in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on June 14, 2024. Cambodia on Friday destroyed multi-million U.S. dollars worth of narcotics and precursor chemicals seized from across the Southeast Asian country, officials said. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)