THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) destroyed on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, over P1.2 billion worth of illegal drugs seized during various operations.
PDEA Director Wilkins Villanueva said the illegal substances with a combined value of P1,295,050,354.65 were destroyed through thermal decomposition at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. (IWMI), Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite.
Those destroyed were methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), toluene, marijuana, cocaine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ecstasy, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, opium, diazepam, nitrazepam, alprazolam, methylephedrine, ketamine, methylphenidate, expired medicines, liquid shabu, and GBL (gamma-butyrolactone)
Thermal decomposition, or thermolysis, is the process of breaking down chemical compounds by heat. At 1,000 degrees centigrade, all dangerous drugs are totally decomposed or broken down.
Destruction of dangerous drugs is in compliance with the guidelines for the custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs as contained in Section 21, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002.
This is being conducted to ensure that illegal drugs seized during law enforcement operations are not being recycled by erring officials.
Villanueva also said 786 kilograms of shabu that were seized recently will be destroyed by July, depending on the court order.
He said they are continuously coordinating with the courts to expedite the process for the destruction of all the illegal drugs under their custody. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)