93 tonnes of narcotics incinerated - Bangkok Post

Officials from the Ministry of Public Health and other agencies inspect seized narcotics destined for an incinerator at the Akkhie Prakarn Plc industrial waste management centre in Bang Poo district of Samut Prakan. (Photo: FDA) The Ministry of Public Health has continued its “Burn for Better” campaign by destroying 93 tonnes of seized narcotics in its 63rd drug destruction operation, representing 48,320 cases.

The six-day operation began on Tuesday at the Akkhie Prakarn Plc industrial waste management centre in Samut Prakan’s Bang Poo district of Samut Prakan.

The ministry is responsible for keeping and managing seized narcotics nationwide and works closely with partner agencies to continuously carry out drug disposal operations, said Narin Kalayanamit, an adviser to the public health minister.

The incineration operation was carried out through procedures that were lawful, transparent and verifiable at every stage, he said.

The seized narcotics weighed 93,092 kilogrammes, including packaging, with the drugs themselves accounting for 74,460kg, said Supattra Boonserm, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration.

Methamphetamine pills made up the largest share at 48,172kg, followed by crystal meth at 20,934kg. The haul also included 2,683kg of ketamine, 1,700kg of sibutramine, 635kg of heroin and other substances.

The drugs were destroyed in a hazardous-waste incinerator using natural gas, with pollution-control systems designed to minimise environmental impacts.

The first-stage rotary kiln operated at temperatures exceeding 850C, followed by a secondary incinerator exceeding 1,200C to ensure more than 99.99% destruction of hazardous organic compounds.

The operation is scheduled to finish on Nov 1, with inspections conducted every three hours.