SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: According to the United Nations, Myanmar is the second biggest opium producer after Afghanistan, and many accuse Myanmar's military-led government of turning a blind eye to the use of its territory for the production and cross-border distribution of illegal stimulants. But the government has held a gathering which it hopes will prove otherwise. Officials have recently destroyed more than $900 million worth of illegal drugs. The move came in front of international drug officials, to show Myanmar's commitment to stamping out its drug trade. As Myanmar Radio and Television reports, the country is trying to tackle the problem at its source.</s>LAING MAUNG PAN, MYANMAR RADIO AND TELEVISION REPORTER (voice- over): At a recent ministry-level meeting on drug control,</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We in Myanmar are committed</s>PAN: The UNDCB representative for East Asia and the Pacific also noted that...</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have the plans. The problem is not having good plans, the problem is having good international support for these plans, and this is the reason why we are meeting here to have the support of the international community, to show that it works, that this kind of a approach is effective, and convince the international community, through the United Nations, to support the effort of the government and the people of Myanmar.</s>PAN (on camera): The opium, heroin and stimulants are worth $900 million in the streets of the United States of America. The grand total worth of all the narcotics drugs today destroyed is estimated at $920 million</s>U.S. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I find it commendable. They say seeing is believing, so today what we have seen is really commendable, and the government is doing a fantastic job in eradicating all the drugs.</s>PAN: Now you can witness the burning of ceased narcotic drugs as Myanmar's national efforts, not only with Myanmar but with the cooperation of international and regional will bring faster elimination of the menace. This is Laing Maung Pan, Mynmar Radio and Television, for CNN WORLD REPORT.
Government of Myanmar Works to Eliminate Drug Trade