OVER P4.56-B WORTH OF DANGEROUS DRUGS DESTROYED IN CAVITE

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday destroyed in a special facility in Trece  Martires City, Cavite more than P4.56 billion worth of shabu and other dangerous drugs confiscated by government anti-narcotics agents.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla, who was the guest of honor and speaker in the event, led the destruction of the P4,563,517,903.02 worth of dangerous drugs  at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. (IWMI) in Bgy. Aguado in Trece Martires City.

According to PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez,  a total of 1,136.5521 kilograms of solid illegal drugs, and 657.1300 milliliters of liquid illegal drugs were destroyed through thermal decomposition or thermolysis during the event witnessed by other government and civilian authorities.

Among those destroyed were 555.2393 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu; 442.9399 kilograms of marijuana; 1.6651 kilograms of MDMA or ecstasy; 117.3860 kilograms of cocaine; 15.8149 kilograms of ephedrine; and 0.5070 kilogram of ketamine. Also included were liquid substances such as amphetamine, liquid meth, marijuana, toluene, and assorted surrendered expired medicines.

The dangerous drugs were seized from various anti-drug operations conducted by PDEA, together with other law enforcement agencies led by the Philippine National Police headed by Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., as well as those turned over following court orders for destruction, including those turned over by authorities that were recently ordered by the court to be destroyed.

The disposal comes after the successful prosecution and resolution of the cases in which the substances were presented as evidence.

Destroyed were over 43,000 grams of kush, a high-grade marijuana derivative and more than 102,000 grams of cocaine which were found floating along the shorelines of coastal areas in Palawan between late last year and early this year.

“PDEA remains committed to fostering partnerships and collaboration with coastal communities to prevent maritime drug smuggling, and lauds their integrity in promptly surrendering any recovered floating drugs,” Nerez said.

“PDEA is relentless not only in seizing these substances but also in ensuring that once they are taken off the streets, they are permanently destroyed,” he added.

The destruction of the dangerous drugs were witnessed by Cavite Gov. Abeng Remulla, Police Regional Office 4A Director Brig. Gen. Hansel Marantan and Cavite Provincial Director Col. Ariel R Red.