PDEA-7 destroys illegal drugs worth P330.5M

A total of P330.5 million worth of illegal drugs were destroyed by authorities through burning in a funeral homes located along Junquera Street in Cebu City on Thursday morning, October 12,2023. | CDND photo / Emmariel Ares

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A total of P330.5 million worth of illegal drugs were destroyed by authorities here on Thursday morning, October 12, 2023.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7), a court order was issued earlier to allow the destruction of the illegal substances through burning.

The destruction activity of the confiscated and surrendered dangerous drugs was lead by personnel of the PDEA-7 and the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

In the presence of various witnesses, the confiscated illegal drugs were presented to the public prior to its burning at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes located along Junquera Street in Cebu City.

Before the substances were destroyed through thermal destruction, PDEA-7 chemists performed a color test or the ‘Simon’s test’ on the confiscated drugs to determine its authenticity.

After this, the packs of illegal drugs were tossed into the thermal incinerator and burned for around 15-20 minutes to completely get rid of the substances.

Outside of the cremation office, smoke was seen coming out of the chimney.

Ephedrine, nalbuphine

Jigger Montallana, PDEA-7’s regional director, said that the inventory of illegal drugs included 47.8 kilos of shabu, 2 kilos of marijuana, 5 grams of cocaine, 932 grams of ephedrine, and 613 milliliter of nalbuphine.

According to data from PDEA-7, the shabu was valued at P325,530,063.76 while the phedrine was worth P4,661,214.  The marijuana was worth P251,616.85; nalbuphine – P122,704; and cocaine – P27,613.

Ephedrine is a medicine used to manage and treat a clinically significant hypotension while nalbuphine is a type of pain medicine that is injected into the body to affect the central nervous system and relieve pain.

The confiscated drugs and expired medicine had a total market value of P330,593,211.61, according to Montallana.

Biggest destruction

Montallana said that this was already the second time that their agency conducted a drugs destruction activity this year with the last one held in February. It was also the biggest destruction that they’ve had since 2017. 

Last February 18, PDEA-7 also led the destruction of 28 kilos of shabu and 163 grams of marijuana with a total value of P191 million. In December 2002, P83 million worth of illegal drugs were also burned.

“Eto po yung the biggest na destruction activity so far in our region in terms of value and volume of shabu to be destroyed for this destruction in Central Visayas,” he said.

Intensified efforts

Montallana said that the confiscation of the illegal drugs was a product of the relentless and intensified efforts of local law enforcement agencies against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.

“Continuous naman po ang atong anti-drug campaign sa Central Visayas. And this will really show, na yung seizure natin is malaki, yung effort ng ating different law enforcement agencies here in Central Visayas particularly ang ating PNP,” he said.

Moreover, Montallana assured the public that this will not be last illegal drugs destruction activity that they will conduct to get rid of the supply of dangerous drugs in region.

“This will not be the last destruction activity that we will be having for the year. But definitely, we will intensify our crusade against illegal drugs for the coming years,” he added. / dcb

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