PDEA burns almost P6 billion worth of illegal drugs

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has destroyed over one ton of illegal drugs and ingredients which were seized in several anti-drug operations.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras," the dangerous drugs were burned in a thermal incinerator cranked up to 1,000°C in Trece Martires, Cavite.

Included in the drugs destroyed were the 274-kilos of shabu confiscated from the Manila International Container Port on October 6.

“The reason why mabilis po yung pagka-dispose is because wala pong kaso. Pag meron kasing naifile na kaso, we would have to ask for the permission of the court to destroy," PDEA chief Moro Virgilio Lazo said.

"Because kapag may kaso, evidence yan 'di ba? Sa akin lang yung authority to destroy evidence na walang cases filed,” he added.

(The reason for the quick disposal was the absence of cases. If there's a case filed, we would have to ask for the permission of the court to destroy them. If there's a case, these will be, right? I only have the authority to destroy evidence when no cases are filed.)

According to data released by PDEA, 64,862 drug offenders have been arrested from July 2022 to September 2023.

There was a 60% rise in the amount of confiscated shabu, but a 52% decrease in drug-related fatalities. —NB, GMA Integrated News