P1.8-billion illegal drugs destroyed

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Dionisio Santiago led the destruction of 226 kilos of illegal drugs worth P1.8 billion at an accredited drug destruction facility in Trece Martires, Cavite the other day.

Santiago said this was in compliance with the guidelines on the custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals and laboratory equipment as prescribed by Regulation No.1, series of 2002 of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

“The law dictates that the destruction of illegal drugs be made public. This is a way of practicing transparency to dispel any public notion that illegal drugs confiscated by authorities are being recycled,” he said. 

“We want the public to see with their own eyes as we burn into smoke what could have been a P1.8-billion profit for illegal drug syndicates,” he added.

Destroyed at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. facility was 225.658 kilograms of assorted drug evidence composed of powdered shabu, marijuana, ephedrine, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and expired medicine, together with 15.5 liters of liquid methamphetamine.               – Jerry Botial