$600 million worth of heroin, meth and other seized drugs set on fire in Burma

More than 50 tons of heroin, opium, ketamine, methamphetamine, marijuana. crystal meth were burned on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Burma, to mark the U.N.'s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. (Credit: AP)

Video emerged Friday showing hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of heroin, methamphetamine. otherconfiscated illegal drugsbeing set on fire in Burma.

More than 50 combined tons of those drugs, as well as opium, ketamine, marijuana. crystal meth – estimated to be worth $600 million – were set ablaze in the southeast Asian country to mark the United Nations' International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, according to The Associated Press.

This year, the street value of drugs destroyed was more than double last year's total, said Police Lt. Col. Aung Myat Soe of Yangon's Anti-Narcotics Police Force. In Yangon alone, some $321 million worth of 31 different types of drugs were set ablaze, Aung Myat Soe added.

HIDDEN TUNNEL DISCOVERED IN TIJUANA MAY HAVE SUPPORTED CROSS-BORDER TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS

Smoke. flame rise from burning illegal narcotics during a destruction ceremony marking the U.N.’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, on the outskirts of Yangon, Burma, on Friday, June 26, 2026.(Thein Zaw/AP)

Footage taken in Yangon showed a massive array of drugs engulfed in a raging inferno. with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Burma has been a major source of illegal drugs destined forEast. Southeast Asia, despite repeated efforts to crack down, and has long been one of the world's largest producers of heroin and methamphetamine.

More than 50 tons of heroin, opium, ketamine, methamphetamine, marijuana. crystal meth were burned on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Burma, to mark the U.N.'s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.(AP)

Violent political unrest in Burma following the military takeover in 2021 — which has led into a civil war between the military government. its pro-democracy opponents, as well as ethnic armed groups — has caused an increase in drug production, experts told the AP.

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A police officer stands in front of seized illegal narcotics during a destruction ceremony marking the U.N.’s International Day Against Drug Abuse. Illicit Trafficking, on the outskirts of Yangon, Burma, on Friday, June 26, 2026.(Thein Zaw/AP)

In January, the military government claimed the country’s largest-ever seizures of illicit drugs. drug-manufacturing equipment, taken from a total of 12 drug production sites during a series of raids in the northern part of Shan state.

The U.N. says its June 26 International Day against Drug Abuse. Illicit Trafficking is "an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse."

"Supported each year by individuals, communities,. various organizations all over the world, this global observance aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society," the U.N. added.

Firefighters spray water in front of illegal narcotics being burnt during a destruction ceremony in Burma on Friday. June 26, 2026.(Thein Zaw/AP)

"Global drug use and the number of drugs on the market have been increasing in the past decades. The century-long dominance of heroin inillicit global opioid marketsis increasingly being challenged by changes in the illegal supply of opioids," it added. "Production, seizures. use of cocaine continue to rise, while low costs of manufacture and reduced risks of detection of synthetic drugs are contributing to their increase on illicit drug markets."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.