DANGEROUS drugs worth P473.552 million were destroyed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Cavite on Thursday, February 16.

PDEA said destroyed through thermal decomposition were a total of 329,361.59 grams (329.36 kilograms) of assorted pieces of drug evidence composed of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, liquid methamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, ecstasy, methylephedrine, methylphenidate, lorazepam, nitrazepam, clonazepam, alprazolam, heroin, codeine and expired medicines.

Thermal decomposition is the process by which various compounds are broken down into single units by the application of heat wherein reconstruction of the substances is impossible.

Based on the consolidated report of the PDEA Laboratory Service, among those destroyed during the activity were 141,776.43 grams of shabu worth P425,329,290; 5,850.25 grams of cocaine worth P22,230,950; 3,621.37 grams of ketamine worth P18,106,850; and other dangerous drugs.

"These are part of the illegal drugs that were seized during operations conducted by PDEA combined with those turned over by other partner drug law enforcement agencies that are no longer needed as evidence in court," PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña said.

The destruction was held at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. (IWMI), Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairperson of the Senate Committee on public order and dangerous drugs, witnessed the destruction of illegal drugs,

The activity was made in compliance with the requirements of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation 1 series of 2002.

"The destruction of seized illegal drugs in accordance with the provisions of the law will eliminate any misconception that these items are being recycled and peddled back into the streets," Lapeña said. (SDR/SunStar Philippines)