Gov't destroys $50.13 M worth of dangerous drugs

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Philippine anti-narcotics agency today destroyed P2.25 billion ($50.13 million) worth of dangerous drugs, a senior government official said.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Arturo Cacdac, Jr. said the 577,719.4 grams of assorted dangerous drugs were destroyed through thermal decomposition in a facility in the northern Philippine province of Cavite.

These illegal drugs consist of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, ephedrine, cocaine, marijuana, diazepam or Valium and expired medicines.

Based on consolidated report of the PDEA Laboratory Service, seized shabu weighing 559,716.8 grams constituted 99.5 percent of the total drugs destroyed.

Cacdac said illegal drugs burned today were the highest in terms of total value and gross weight since the agency's haul of over 700 kilograms in May 2008.