P2.6-B drugs destroyed in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday destroyed 1.6 metric tons of illegal drugs with an estimated street value of P2.67 billion.

“Today’s bulk destruction is the highest in terms of total value and gross weight of dangerous drugs destroyed since 2010,” PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac  Jr. said in a statement.

The drugs, which included about 461 kilograms of shabu, were confiscated by PDEA operatives from two storage facilities in San Fernando, Pampanga in September 2014.

Marijuana, ephedrine, aziridine, norephedrine, pseudoephedrine and expired medicine were also destroyed.

The drugs were destroyed through thermal decomposition at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Cavite.

“We want the public to witness the destruction of dangerous drugs…to allay public apprehension that these illicit substances are being reused, recycled or sold in the streets,” Cacdac said.

The destruction of dangerous drugs is in compliance with custody and disposition guidelines under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation 1.