YANGON: Myanmar and Thai authorities incinerated $ 400 million-worth of narcotics yesterday in a bid to tackle their reputations as hubs for illicit substances and mark World Drug Day.

Some 31 million methamphetamine tablets, nearly 300 kilogrammes of crystal meth — known as ‘Ice’ — and 125 kilos of heroin were destroyed in an industrial park in the Thai city of Ayutthaya, according to the kingdom’s Public Health Ministry. The haul was worth around $ 320 million, the ministry said, adding it was accumulated through more than 2,500 drug seizures by Thai authorities.

In neighboring Myanmar, where experts say increasing amounts of amphetamines are being manufactured in jungle laboratories, authorities burned $ 76 million-worth of drugs including more than 800,000 pills and half a ton of opium.