The drugs, which consisted of heroin, “yaba” (crazy), crystal methamphetamine “ice”, ganja and kratom, were destroyed using an incinerator at the Utility and Environment Management Centre at Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa-in industrial centre.

“The drugs were seized from 6,546 raids and arrests across Thailand,” said a statement from the Public Health Ministry today, adding that “yaba” and methamphetamine pills constituted the bulk of drugs destroyed amounting to 87 million pills or 7,886kg.

The estimated value of the destroyed “yaba” pills was 17.5 billion baht (RM2.19 billion).

Besides “yaba”, other types of drugs, destroyed in the ceremony today, were 1,185kg of “ice” estimated to be worth 2.9 billion baht (RM362 million) and 169kg heroin (RM22.7 million).

The authorities also destroyed 6,853kg of ganja and kratom which were seized during drug enforcement operations, estimated to be worth 54 million baht (RM6.75 million).

Opium, cocaine and other types were also destroyed.

Many of the drugs destroyed today were allegedly produced in clandestine drug factories which are hidden deep inside the “Golden Triangle”, a large area known for its lawlessness which sits within the borders of northern Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China have also formed the “Safe Mekong Coordination Centre” in 2015 to combat the drug trade in the Golden Triangle.

Thailand’s neighbours, Myanmar and Cambodia, also held similar events today to mark the international day.