PDEA destroys P1.3-billion cocaine, marijuana

MANILA, Philippines - Some 348 kilos of illegal drugs, with a street value of P1.3 billion, were burned yesterday at a government-accredited incineration facility in Malabon City.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) deputy director for operation Rodolfo Caisip said there were 228 kilos of high-grade cocaine, 106 kilos marijuana, and 12 kilos shabu.

“The high-grade cocaine was part of those recovered by fishermen off the coast of Samar seas in December last year,” Caisip told The STAR.

Other illegal drugs destroyed include 51, 908 vials of ketamine; 34 grams of valium; 65 grams of ephedrine; 19 grams of phenmetrazine; and 2.7 grams of ecstasy, which were turned over to the PDEA for destruction by the different courts and police crime laboratories.

PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago said the burning of the illegal drugs, done in coordination with the “international and domestic” law enforcement agencies, “signifies our unwavering commitment to seriously liberate our country and the Filipino people from the clutches of the drug menace.”              – Pete Laude, Jerry Botial