To mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, organized by the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, the 6th destruction of seized narcotic drugs in Shan State North areas was held at Union Sports Ground in Lashio, Shan State (North) today.

Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council Commander of North-East Command Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut incinerated the seized drugs.

Also present were Chairman of CCDAC Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Maung Oo, Dean of Diplomatic Corps Cambodian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Hul Phany and foreign ambassadors to Myanmar, charge d’ affaires, resident representative of UN, departmental officials and members of CCDAC, Police officers of Myanmar Police Force and mediamen.

First, Secretary of CCDAC Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Brig-Gen Khin Yi briefed on destruction of seized drugs.

In his address, Brig-Gen Khin Yi said: the ceremony being held today is to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which falls on 26 June every year. Similar ceremonies are being held all over the world today and in Myanmar also, States and Divisions have been honouring this event by conducting these ceremonies annually . To honour the significance of this ceremony, we have added the destruction of seized drugs by setting them ablaze in front of the public since 1990 and have celebrated the event 20 times in Yangon up to 2006. Likewise, there have been 42 occasions of its kind held in the border regions.

Moreover, after last year’s 20th destruction, two similar ceremonies were held at Laikha, Shan State (South), and another occasion to burn in Kengtung, Shan State (East), respectively.

During the period from 2002 to 2005, there had already been 5 occasions of destroying seized narcotic drugs in Shan State (North). Thus, this is going to be the 6th occasion to burn seized drugs to be held in Shan State (North).

In the previous years, the Central Committee held the annual occasions of honouring the International Day Against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and destruction of seized drugs in Yangon only. This is the first time that the central level destruction of seized drugs is to be held in Lashio. One of the reasons we have invited you all up to Lashio is to give recognition and credit of the significant successes achieved in Shan State (North), particularly in the annual reduction of opium poppy cultivation and production and the excellent programmes undertaken by the authorities for crop substitution, alternative development and law enforcement.

Being aware of the menace of drugs to mankind, Myanmar has not spared any efforts to totally eradicate the problem from the face of the earth, by using all means, even sacrificing lives, blood and sweat.

Drug is a problem that affects the health, social and economic fabrics of the community and accordingly due to this fact, Myanmar is addressing the problem hand in hand with the general public.

This morning we have heard an encouraging message from Mr Antonio Maria Costa, the Executive Director of UNODC. The 2007 World Drug Report issued today by the UNODC provides further evidence that the world drug problem is being controlled. There are signs of overall stability in cultivation, production and abuse. We have heard that from a global perspective, the problem seems to be contained and the world drug situation has stabilized.

For the first time within a decade we have witnessed the significant decline of poppy cultivation. This is undeniably the results of collaborative efforts among nations that we can take pride of. Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a classic example among the 10 ASEAN countries declaring to the world that it is opium free in 2006.

Similarly, the result of the efforts of Myanmar to eliminate opium poppy cultivation and production within the decade is clearly reflected in the World Drug Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The World Drug Report stated that there had been 155,150 hectares of poppy cultivation producing an estimate of 1,676 tons of opium in 1997. This has decreased to 21,500 hectares and 337 tons in 2006. These figures stand testimony that we have laid down a consistent and pragmatic strategy in the fight against drugs in Myanmar. The 15-year Plan launched in 1999 is a comprehensive plan covering not only supply reduction but also demand reduction and law enforcement programs with the objective of establishing an opium free country by 2014. We have implemented this program without any international assistance by relying on our own resources. However, we are fully confident that we will be able to achieve our goals in the very near future. If there is international cooperation and assistance, that realization of the objectives will be much earlier than projected.

While we are striving to reduce and stop poppy cultivation on one hand, we are also strengthening law enforcement suppression on drug producers and traffickers. In this regard, I wish to take this opportunity to brief you on some significant cases from the Northeastern Shan State where the Lashio Anti-narcotics Task force together with other law enforcement agencies managed to search and raid clandestine refineries seizing drugs, precursor chemicals as well as assorted arms and ammunitions.

On 29 July 2006, a combined team of law enforcement officials raided a clandestine refinery near Man Lin village in Kutkhai township and seized 4 assorted small arms, 27 kg of raw opium, 175,000 ATS tablets, 27 liters of opium liquid and paraphernalia.

On 19 January 2007, another clandestine refinery was raided in a ravine near Loi Kye Kham and Man Lin villages in Hsenwi Township and seized 20.3 kg of No 3 heroin, one side arm with ammunition and precursor chemicals and paraphernalia.

On 23 April 2007, 146.7 kg of opium and 300 grams of heroin were seized at Pan Se village in Namkham Township.

On 26 May 2007, 191,000 ATS tablets, 376 of ephedrine, 46.5 kg of opium, 2 tablet punching machines, precursor chemicals were seized near Nam Luk village in Mong Yaw area of Lashio district.

One significant and successful case of cross border cooperation with China occurred recently in May 2007. In an incident along the Myanmar-China border on 25 March 2007, 3 officers from Border Defence Force, Yunnan Province of China were killed in a shootout with drug traffickers. Chinese authorities requested assistance in investigating and arrest of the Chinese gang leader Xiao Wu, who fled into Myanmar. Forming a joint investigation team on 30 April, the operation took 3 weeks to track and flush out Xiao Wu who was arrested on 24 May and rendered back to China on 30 May.

With regard to collaboration with neighboring countries, Myanmar has rendered 63 drug traffickers to China since 2001 and China, in return, has rendered 3 drug offenders to Myanmar during 2005 and 2006. Also, Myanmar has rendered 3 drug offenders to Thailand during 2004 and 2005. Thailand, in return, has rendered one drug offender to Myanmar in 2005.

We look intothe data of the seizures of opium and heroin, 7,880 kgs of opium were seized in 1997 but only 2,320 kgs were seized in 2006. Likewise, heroin seizures dropped from 1400 kgs in 1997 to 192 kgs in 2006. Looking at the data We can generally analyze that production has declined in the past decade from 1997 to 2007 and opium and heroin are not easily available for interdiction.

With regard to Amphetamine Type Stimulant (ATS), since our first seizure in 1996 yearly seizures increased until 2001 when we seized 32 million tablets. Some sources alleged that Myanmar has increased production of ATS in lieu of heroin. We have repeatedly clarified that ATS is a synthetic drug that is produced in a lab from chemicals and the source of all the precursor chemicals necessary for the production are illegally smuggled in from neighboring countries. We have seized 39,000 liters in 2003, 17,000 liters in 2004, 17,800 liters in 2005 and last year 16,700 liters. We do not point fingers and blame others but have opted for closer cooperation with neighboring countries to control and interdict precursors crossing the border illegally to the clandestine labs.

He next explained the changing trends of drugs trafficking in Myanmar. The inter-diction of Ketamine and Ecstasy which are trying to infiltrate and establish a bridgehead in the country, the traffickers changed to psychotropic substances trafficking into the country.

In 2006 December, we arrested 2 Pakistanis at Yangon international Airport trying to smuggle in 230,000 Ativan tablets, 1.950 bails and 17,700 tablets of Bunorfin, 5,900 tablets of Frisium, 4,800 tablets of Sosegon. The drugs addicts are trying out with psychotropic drugs because of the scarcity of heroin and ATS in the market.

Another indicator is the escalating prices of drugs. Even when we compare with prices of 4 years back, heroin fetches K 20 million a kilo then is now K 80 million per kg. Similarly, one tablet of methamphetamine costing K 700 four years back is now K 5,000 a tablet.

These indicators reflect the decrease of opium and heroin production causing a drought in the country, while the scale up interdiction by law enforcement agencies makes it more difficult for traffickers as well as small time pushers.

In conclusion, Police Brig-Gen Khin Yi stated the list and amount of drugs to be destroyed at 6th occasion in Lashio, Shan State (North) that included 334.68 kilos of opium, 67.47 kilos of heroin, 4,057,395 tablets of methamphetamine (4.05 Million), 7.3 kilos of no 3 heroin, 437.9 kilos of stimulant in powder form, 537 kilos of low grade opium, 98.19 kilos of ephedrine, 104.2 kilos of caffeine, 0.5 kilo of cannabis, 1 kilo of ketamine, 6319.14 liters of liquid chemical, 2209.95 kilos of chemical powder, 419.62 kilos of opium poppy seeds, 495 poppy plants and 70 related materials.

The street value of the narcotic drugs we will destroy today is estimated over 272.5 million US dollars. All the guests are invited to examine and conduct tests on these drugs for their authenticity before they are burned and destroyed.

Next diplomats, resident representatives of UN agencies and officials destroyed seized precursor chemical liquid and inspected authenticity of seized narcotic drugs before they were incinerated.

Afterwards, Commander Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut, Cambodian Ambassador Mr Hul Phany, Chairman of CCDAC Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Maung Oo, Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Nobutake Odano, Director-General of MPF Brig-Gen Khin Yi, Ambassador of Vietnam Mr Tran Van Tung incinerated the seized drugs .

After the ceremony, the commander, the minister, ambassadors, the charge d’ affaires, resident representatives visited the booths staged by CCDAC, Rehabilitation Group, group for raising awareness of danger of narcotic drugs, group for growing opium substitute crops and Department for Progress of Border Areas and National Races.