PDEA destroys Php 807-M worth of dangerous drugs

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency destroyed 261 kilograms (kl) and 301 liters of dangerous drugs worth P807.7 million at the Integrated Waste Management Incorporated in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite yesterday.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. said the destruction ceremony was done in compliance with the guidelines set forth by Section 21, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, supported by Dangerous Drugs Board Regulations No.1 series of 2002 and 2007.

"We destroyed these dangerous drugs today so that they will no longer be used by drug syndicates and their cohorts to destroy more lives. To unscrupulous drug groups, today's destruction (ceremony) represents more than P800 million loss. We have kept our side of our social contract to keep the supply of illegal drugs inaccessible to consumers," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said that the process of thermal decomposition was used to destroy 22 kl of powdered/crystal shabu, 206 liters of liquid shabu, 95 liters of liquid ephedrine, 186 kl of dried marijuana leaves, and other dangerous drugs like cocaine, heroin, and valium.

The destroyed dangerous drugs involved 23 drug cases that were covered by court orders for proper destruction which were no longer needed in court as drug evidence. Expired medicines were also destroyed, along with the dangerous drugs.

"Extremely high temperature burned the substances into ashes, making it practically impossible to reconstruct its original chemical composition. This is PDEA's way of ensuring the public that confiscated drugs are destroyed and not recycled," Gutierrez said, adding that the value of dangerous drugs destroyed today exceeded by 32 percent the combined P591 million-worth of the drug evidence destroyed in 2011.

Gutierrez thanked the officials from other law enforcement agencies, representatives from the Department of Justice, the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Public Attorney's Office, non-government organizations, officials of Barangay Aguado, and media partners who witnessed the destruction ceremony. - PIA — ARA