PDEA torches P15M illegal drugs seized in Bangsamoro region

Chemists and PDEA agents prepare to put inside the incinerator prohibited drugs seized since 2014 in the Bangsamoro region. (Photo courtesy of Ferdinandh Cabrera)

COTABATO CITY –– Anti-narcotics operatives in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) burned some P15 million worth of prohibited drugs in a private facility in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao Friday, August 2.

This is to show that confiscated illegal drugs are not recycled or brought back to the illicit drugs market, said Juvenal Azurin, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the BARMM.

“We are hurt when people accuse us of recycling the illegal drugs that were seized earlier,” Azurin told reporters.

He said the incinerated items included illegal drugs and suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu seized since 2014 in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces, and Marawi and Cotabato cities.

The shabu was placed inside an incinerator along with rice hull that was used in producing electricity.

A road roller ran over the prohibited drugs in bottles and plastic containers. These were part of drugs, marijuana, and medicine seized during raids and those surrendered by civilians to PDEA, Azurin said.

Regional trial court judge Kasan Abdulrakman witnessed the burning of the confiscated illegal items.

“Illegal drugs destroy families and future generations, including our families so the judiciary supports the campaign of PDEA,” Abdulrakman said. /lb