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MANILA, Philippines — Authorities on Thursday destroyed over P4 billion worth of illegal drugs, controlled precursors, and essential chemicals in the province of Cavite, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
According to PDEA, it burned 700 kilograms of dangerous drugs worth P4,154,802,996 at Integrated Waste Management, Inc., Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City. The illegal narcotics were seized during the agency’s various anti-drug operations along with its counterpart law enforcement and military units.
Based on PDEA Laboratory Service’s consolidated report, 600 kilograms of crystal meth or “shabu” (worth P4,089,840,275); over 100 kilos of marijuana (P13,283,295); 6.28 grams of cocaine (P33,284); over 12,000 grams of ecstasy (P51,534,890); and 32.5 grams of ephedrine (P111,218), among others, were destroyed.
The agency said that the pieces of drug evidence were incinerated through thermal decomposition or thermolysis, which involves breaking down chemical compounds with tremendous heat.
They were destroyed in compliance with the guidelines on the disposition of seized narcotics under Republic Act 9165, The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002.
Representatives from the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, officials of Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, other law enforcement agencies, and non-government organizations were present during the burning of illegal drugs and other chemicals.