A large quantity of precursor drugs were found abandoned outside a monastery in Shan State's KyaukmeTownship earlier this week, The Irrawaddy reported.

Police said it was one of the largest of such hauls ever in the eastern state known as a narcotics hub.

A Kyaukme police officer said locals tipped off authorities after sighting more than a dozen mysterious sacks near the Chaung Kyauk monastery.

Accompanied by Myanmar army soldiers, police went to the scene and found 682.5 kilograms of pseudoephedrine in both tablet and powder form. Pseudoephedrine is an amphetamine commonly used in nasal decongestants, and a preferred chemical precursor for the production of methamphetamines.

A military-owned newspaper, Myawaddy, reported that the load of pills and powder carried an estimated value of US$2.4 million dollars, though this could not be independently verified.

The production and use of methamphetamines has risen sharply in eastern Burma over recent years as anti-narcotics efforts targeting the region’s expansive opiate trade have taken hold.

Massive haul of precursor drugs found abandoned in Shan State - Thai PBS English News