PDEA destroys seized drugs worth P637.8 M

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed P637.8 million worth of confiscated dangerous drugs yesterday.

The illegal drugs destroyed through thermal decomposition consisted of P399.16 million worth of ephedrine and shabu amounting to P232.74 million, said PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac Jr.

He said the illegal drugs seized in a series of anti-narcotics operations included cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, valium, oxycodone as well as expired medicine.

The destruction of seized dangerous drugs was made in compliance with Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) regulations.

Cacdac said the drugs were destroyed at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite.

PDEA officials and representatives from the Department of Justice, DDB, Pubic Attorney’s Office, non-government organizations and members of the media witnessed the destruction.

“The destruction of seized illegal drugs will erase misconceptions that these items are being recycled and peddled back to the streets,” the PDEA chief said.