A forklift was used to unload more than USD1 million in illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia to be incinerated in a steel company's blast furnace.

The Associated Press reported the illegal goods, collected by Canton police in 2002 and 2003, were burned at 2,850 degrees Fahrenheit (1,565.6 degrees Celcius).

Canton police chief Dean McKimm said it was ironic to see evidence collected by police burned but "at least you know it's not going back on the street".