P13.3 billion seized illegal drugs destroyed

MANILA, Philippines — At least 2.1 tons of illegal drugs seized in recent operations worth P13.35 billion were destroyed at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. facility in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite yesterday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Wilkins Villanueva led the disposal of the seized drugs, which he said was the biggest in the history of law enforcement under the Duterte administration.

“I would like to extend my gratitude and sincere appreciation to the Philippine National Police (PNP), other law enforcement units and regional trial courts... for the expeditious disposition of these illegal drugs that are no longer needed as evidence in court,” Villanueva said in a statement.

The drugs consisted of 1.9 tons of shabu with an estimated street value of P13.18 billion, 21,606.12 grams of ephedrine (P108.03 million), 9,213.28 grams of cocaine (P48.83 million), 3,240.01 grams of ecstasy (P11.01 million), 77,921.73 grams of marijuana (P9.35 million), 400 milliliters of liquid shabu (P816,000), 10.05 grams of methylephedrine (P16,080), 55.45 grams of diazepam (P4,297.38), 1.05 grams of ketamine (P5,250) and 4.48 grams of methylenedioxyamphetamine (P72.58).

About half of the drugs were seized by police anti-narcotics agents, including 827.1 kilos of shabu worth P5.62 billion confiscated during a raid at a warehouse in Bulacan in June and 371.98 kilos of shabu valued at P2.52 billion seized in Cavite on the same month.

Villanueva said the destruction of the seized drugs is in compliance with the guidelines under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

“We want to assure the public that PDEA as the lead agency in the national anti-drug campaign, adheres to transparency and gives credence to accountability that strictly follow existing laws and rules to dispel the public notion that these illicit items are being reused, recycled or sold back in the streets,” he said.

Present during the ceremonial destruction were Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Secretary Catalino Cuy and PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa.

In a circular issued last month, Marquez reminded judges handling drug cases to strictly follow the provisions of the law on the disposal of confiscated drugs

“Those illegal drugs have to be destroyed right away... para hindi mapalitan, hindi bumalik sa illegal trade,” he said.

The government has destroyed P41.39 billion worth of illegal drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals since 2016.

Shabu lab dismantled

Meanwhile, police dismantled a shabu laboratory in Barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales on Thursday.

“The warehouse contained various types of suspected precursors and chemicals in the preparation of shabu and various laboratory apparatus,” Col. Ponce Rogelio Peñones, Zambales police director, said.

Peñones said the property is owned by a certain Mark Rae Lapid.

The alleged caretaker of the shabu laboratory, Joven Salvador, was arrested. – Bebot Sison, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ed Amoroso