In line with the government’s policy to promptly dispose of all confiscated drug evidence as authorized by the courts, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) quickly incinerated about 724 kilograms (725,081.0744 grams) of shabu or Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, along with other illicit drugs and controlled substances and chemicals (CSCs) worth a total of Php 4.51 Billion Pesos.

The massive stash of illegal drugs and CSCs, weighing 1,288,799.7371 grams, was destroyed recently at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (IWMI) in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite, under the supervision of PDEA Deputy Director General for Operations Assistant Secretary Renato A. Gumban.

The destruction included about 530 kilograms (529,704.6 grams) of shabu or Methamphetamine Hydrochloride that was seized by the National Bureau of Investigation in Mexico, Pampanga in September last year. 

Besides the shabu or Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, the majority of the illegal drugs and CSCs consisted of 535,352.3195 grams of marijuana, 3,219.0132 grams of MDMA or ecstasy, and 7,423.58 grams of cocaine.

These illicit drugs and controlled substances and chemicals (CSCs) were obtained from various anti-drug operations carried out by PDEA in collaboration with other law enforcement and military agencies.

The drug evidence was eliminated through thermal decomposition or thermolysis. At temperatures above 1,000 degrees centigrade, all illicit drugs are completely broken down or decomposed and cannot be restored.

Key PDEA officials were joined by representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Cavite City Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office, Local officials of Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and media partners in the said elimination of illicit drugs.