The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed P777,624,682.82 worth of dangerous drugs at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (IWMI), Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite on Thursday, September 12, 2024.
According to Director Derrick Carreon, PDEA Public Information Office chief, a total of 1,474,916.7594 grams of solid illegal drugs and 378.5 milliliters of illegal drugs were destroyed through thermal decomposition or thermolysis. Majority of the illegal drugs destroyed were 66,720.7640 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu; 1,390,743.5422 grams of marijuana and 14,145.4798 grams of MDMA or ecstasy; 428.4432 grams of cocaine; 1,665.3900 grams of ephedrine; 1,073.8415 grams of psilocin; 206.5 milliliters of liquid meth and 172 milliliters of liquid marijuana.
“The pieces of drug evidence were stacked inside an incinerator chamber and exposed to high temperatures of over 1,000 degrees centigrade. All dangerous drugs were reduced to ashes and completely decomposed or broken down. Thus, they are impossible to reconstitute. The destruction process should deter drug recycling and pilferage. The burnt dangerous drugs comprised the evidence seized from various anti-drug operations conducted by PDEA, together with other law enforcement agencies, but were no longer needed as evidence in court. The expeditious prosecution and disposition of drug cases where said drugs served as evidence, led to its immediate destruction,” Director Carreon clarified..
Representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ); the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); local officials of Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City; representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies; non-government organizations (NGOs) and media partners joined key PDEA officials in witnessing the destruction activity.
In compliance with the proper disposal of seized drug evidence as required by law, PDEA continues to practice the destruction of all confiscated illegal drugs right after an issuance of a Court Order.
