Anti-narcotics police in Panama burn 26 tons of cocaine and marijuana

Anti-narcotics police in Panama have burned 26 tons of illegal drugs by a river, sending plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky.

The massive haul of cocaine and marijuana has been seized by the authorities in different operations between June and September.

The drugs were likely destined for the US where they would have been sold for tens of millions of dollars. 

The massive haul of cocaine and marijuana has been seized by the authorities in different incidents between June and September

But instead they were burnt in a large fire by the anti-narcotics team who made sure to wear protective clothing to prevent them inhaling the toxic fumes.

The fire was the biggest single destruction of drugs in Panama’s recent history. 

It was destroyed on the outskirts of Panama City at the mouth of the Bayano river. 

The drugs were likely destined for the US where they would have been sold for tens of millions of dollars

Members of the Panamanian security forces destroy drug packages, mostly cocaine and marijuana seized during different operations, to incinerate them at a base of the National Border Service

The haul consisted of 24.3 tons of cocaine and 1.8 tons of marijuana.

The South American country’s location makes it a prime spot in the drugs trade from the continent to the US.

It is also sometimes used as a refuge from drug gangs including Mexican cartels, according to The Sunday Mirror. 

The fire was the biggest single destruction of drugs in Panama’s recent history

The South American country’s location makes it a prime spot in the drugs trade from the continent to the US