YANGON, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar destroyed narcotic drugs and precursors worth 297.95 million U.S. dollars, seized from around the country, to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday, a police report said.

The seized illegal drugs and materials were ceremonially burnt in the Southeast Asian country's three major cities of Yangon, Mandalay, and Taunggyi on Thursday, it said.

The country's authorities destroyed 36 kinds of narcotic drugs worth over 117.75 million dollars in Yangon, 43 kinds of narcotics worth 82.02 million dollars in Mandalay, and 31 kinds of narcotics worth 98.18 million dollars in Taunggyi, the report said.

The destroyed drugs included heroin, opium, stimulant tablets, methamphetamine, cannabis, ketamine, and ecstasy among others.

Last year, narcotic drugs and precursors worth over 349 million dollars were also burnt in the three places, it said.

At the Yangon event, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein said that Myanmar is currently facing challenges due to a rise in poppy cultivation in areas controlled by ethnic armed groups.

He also called for greater cooperation in efforts, including combating drug abuse, enhancing national security measures, and upholding the rule of law. Enditem