MANILA – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday destroyed PHP777 million worth of dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs) in Cavite province.
In a statement, PDEA said these include 1,474.92 kg. of solid illegal drug substances and 378.5 milliliters (ml) of liquid narcotics destroyed through thermal decomposition or thermolysis at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. (IWMI) in Barangay Aguado in Trece Martires City.
These substances are broken down into 66.72 kg. of shabu; 1,390.74 kg. of marijuana; 14.15 kg. of ecstasy; 428.44 grams of cocaine; 1.67 kg. of ephedrine; 1.07 kg. of psilocin; 206.5 ml of liquid shabu and 172 ml of liquid marijuana.
“The pieces of drug evidence were destroyed through thermal decomposition or thermolysis, which involves breaking down chemical compounds with the use of tremendous heat. At 1,000 degrees centigrade, all dangerous drugs are decomposed or broken down,’’ PDEA said.
The illegal drugs were pieces of evidence seized from various anti-drug operations by PDEA, together with the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement and military units.
PDEA said the expeditious prosecution and disposition of drug cases prompted the immediate destruction of these drugs after these were presented as pieces of evidence.
Representatives from the PNP, Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government; local officials of Barangay Aguado, other law enforcement agencies; non-government organizations; and media partners joined key PDEA officials in witnessing the destruction activity.
PDEA said these illegal drugs were destroyed in compliance with orders from the court pursuant to the proper disposal of seized drug evidence as required by law. (PNA)