THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recently discovered a new variety of methylene dioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) also known as ecstasy, which is called a party drug.

The discovery of the souped-up ecstasy is the result of the chemical analysis conducted by the PDEA Laboratory Service on the pieces of drug evidence consisting of 38 green capsules that were seized during a buy-bust operation in Quezon City last month.

The shabu-laced ecstasy, often called "fly-high", or “party” drug is said to be gaining headway and in demand among club and party-goers.

The chemicals used in the preparation of the new ecstasy are directly imported from one of the countries in Southeast Asia and delivered to the Philippines through bulk shipment on a weekly basis.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. described these capsules may differ in color corresponding to its content. He revealed the ecstasy-shabu combined substance is colored dark green, while those colored light green and brown contain a controlled substance and a critical component in the making of shabu.

PDEA is presently intensifying its intelligence gathering to arrest unscrupulous elements responsible for this new trend in illegal drug trafficking.

In Cordillera, the PDEA office started investigating the markets last month if there are MDMA products in the region. Monitoring is led by Regional Director Ronald Allan Ricardo.