Panama burns more than 11 tons of illegal drugs

The drugs were gathered over two months of anti-drug operations

The marijuana and cocaine was hosed down with lighter fluid and then set on fire by authorities (Reuters)

Authorities in Panama have burned more than 11 tons of drugs seized from various anti-narcotics operations from across the country.

Footage shows packages of illicit substances being broken up by authorities using machetes.

The cache, which was gathered over two months and consists of quantities of cannabis and cocaine, was hosed down with lighter fluid and then set on fire by authorities.

Armed police stood guard as they carried out their work.

A spokesperson for the national police told Reuters: "The seizure was carried out by the National Border police, the National Air Sea Service, Police Information Director on the coast and in different areas of the country."

Panama is often used by cartels as a corridor to smuggle narcotics through to North America.

The country still faces major issues of drug and people trafficking, along with corruption and great social inequality.

According to police, dozens of tonnes of drugs were seized and destroyed last year across the Central American country.