P5.32 billion illegal drugs destroyed in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines — Illegal drugs with an estimated street value of P5.32 billion were destroyed by anti-narcotics officials in Trece Martires, Cavite yesterday.

The disposal of the illegal drugs at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Barangay Aguado was witnessed by Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Oscar Valenzuela and officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Authorities said up to 2,227.75 kilos of shabu, marijuana, Ecstasy tablets, cocaine, ketamine, toluene, lysergic acid diethylamide and phenacetin were destroyed during the event.

Among the illegal substances disposed of were the 404.95 kilos of shabu recovered at the port of Manila on Jan. 23 as well as 3,447.09 milliliters of liquid narcotics.

“These are the pieces of evidence confiscated in separate anti-narcotics operations conducted by the PDEA and other law enforcement agencies, including those turned over by authorities and ordered destroyed by the court,” PDEA director Isagani Nerez said.

It was the first disposal of a large volume of confiscated illegal drugs since Nerez became PDEA chief three months ago.

Nerez lauded the courts for the speedy prosecution and disposition of drug cases.

He said the ceremony was made public to show that none of the confiscated illegal drugs had been recycled.

Meanwhile, shabu with an estimated street value of P340,000 was seized in Bacoor, Cavite on Monday.

The illegal substance was confiscated from a drug suspect in a sting in Barangay P.F. Espiritu 3.

The suspect was arrested after he received P500 in marked money from an undercover officer.