MANILA: Some P205.37 million worth of seized illegal drugs were destroyed Tuesday by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents in a waste management facility in Trece Martires, Cavite.
The illegal drugs were seized from different operations in Antipolo, Las Piñas, Makati, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Valenzuela, and provinces of Batangas, Nueva Ecija, and Rizal.
PDEA said the drugs were destroyed in accordance with court orders.
Among the illegal drugs destroyed were:
— Shabu (44,506.5 grams with a total estimated value of P178,026,000.00 at P4,000/gram);
— Cocaine (4,525.9 grams with a total estimated value of P27,161,400 at P6,000/gram);
— Marijuana (3,554.7 grams with total estimated value of P177,735 at P50/gram);
— Diazepam or Valium (2.8 grams with a total estimated value of P108.5 at P38.75/gram).
Some 67,100 grams of expired medicines from the Bureau of Customs were also destroyed.
According to PDEA undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., thermal decomposition was the process of destruction chosen so that when various compounds were broken down into single units by application of heat, reconstruction of the substances cannot be done.
The process to totally destroy the illegal drugs will take 24 hours, that is why PDEA agents will be guarding the facility until the destruction is done.
Cacdac said more operations will be launched by the agency in the future targeting high-impact laboratories, plantations, and storage facilities to prevent these drugs from reaching barangay levels.
He added that law enforcement personalities involved in sale or use of drugs are also considered high-value or priority targets.
