PDEA destroys P1.8B of illegal drugs

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday reported that it has destroyed P1.8-billion worth of dangerous drugs  during the first half of the year 2014.

The PDEA has led the destruction of confiscated illegal drugs from anti-narcotics operations in Cavite, Davao and Cotabato City from January to June 2014.

“These illegal drugs were seized by PDEA and other law enforcement agencies. They were covered with court orders and were no longer needed as evidence in court,” PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr.said.

Expired medicines were also destroyed along with the dangerous drugs.

Last January 29, Senator Grace Poe, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs led the destruction of P643.39-million worth of assorted pieces of drug evidence, poppy seeds and expired medicines at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. (IWMI), Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City.

In Cotabato City, PDEA Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao destroyed P3.9-million of seized illegal drugs on May 8.

PDEA Regional Office XI on June 2 destroyed 84,779.3 grams of cocaine worth P508,677,600 at Holcim Davao plant in Barangay Ilang, Tibungco, Davao City.

The destroyed cocaine consisted of 69,320.30 grams found in the container yard of Sumifru Philippines Inc. in Barangay Ilang, Tibungco, Davao City and 15,459.30 grams found in December 2009 at Maersk container van in Sasa Wharf in Davao City.

The destruction was witnessed by Davao City Mayor, Rodrigo Duterte, PDEA Regional Office XI officials and other stakeholders.

On June 25, a total of P637.85 million worth of illegal drugs and expired medicines were destroyed by PDEA through thermal decomposition at the IWMI facility in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite.

“The destruction of dangerous drugs... is to assure the public that seized illegal drugs are not reused, recycled or sold back in the streets and will never again fall into the wrong hands,” Cacdac said.