PDEA announces incineration of more than 2.2 tons of illegal drugs

Biggest in terms of volume, value under the Marcos administration

On Aug 30, 2026

PDEA officers and personnel assist in the loading of illegal drugs for thermal destruction at a facility in Cavite, August 27, 2026. More than 2.2 metric tons of illegal drugs valued at over ₱12.34 billion, the biggest in terms of value and volume under the Marcos administration (photo credit: Jimmy Mendoza/PDEA).

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) announced the incineration last August 27, of more than 2.2 metric tons of illegal drugs worth over ₱12.34 billion, the largest thus far in terms of value and volume under the Marcos administration, and the fourth largest in the agency’s history.

In a statement, PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez said the activity represents the culmination of law enforcement efforts in the fight against illegal drugs.

“These drugs were taken off the streets through the hard work of our law enforcement personnel and other law enforcement agencies.

“Their incineration ensures that these substances can no longer return to the illegal drug market or pose a threat to our communities,” Nerez said, adding:

“We remain committed to sustaining these efforts and disrupting the illegal drug trade at every point in the supply chain.”

The two Chinese nationals, identified as Xing Xing Zhan and Bin Shi, who were involved in the smuggling of 876 kilos of shabu last March 10 in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro (photo from the PNP thru the Phil. News Agency).

The destruction thru “thermal decomposition” was held at the Integrated Waste Management Inc., facility in Bgy. Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite.

A significant portion of the volume came from two major anti-illegal drug operations, including the interception of 876 kilos of shabu in 43 plastic sacks worth more than ₱5.8 billion last March 10 and March 11, in Sitio Agbalete, Bgy. Harrison, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro.

Authorities pounced on the shipment after the twin-engined speedboat carrying the illegal drugs developed engine trouble and ran aground near the shore. Two Chinese nationals and their two Filipino crews were also arrested.

The other is the 906.406 kilos of shabu worth more than ₱6.6 billion the authorities recovered from a clandestine shabu laboratory in Valenzuela City, a month previously, last February 22.

The two operations alone accounted for approximately 1.7 metric tons of the shabu destroyed, Nerez noted.

For full transparency, the event was also witnessed by Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairperson Secretary Oscar F Valenzuela, who served as Guest of Honor and Speaker, together with representatives from other government and law enforcement agencies, partner organizations, and the media.

The destruction also included 433,336.9546 grams of marijuana; 2,208.7373 grams of cocaine; 21.2214 grams of MDMA; 9.0571 grams of MDMA+Meth;

51 grams of Diazepam; 2.7076 grams of Ketamine; 22.1000 grams of Nitrazepam; 4.2500 grams of Psilocybin; 1,797 milliliters of liquid marijuana; 104,589.0500 milliliters of liquid shabu; and, 15,000 grams of assorted expired medicines.

Based on available data, the three biggest destructions of illegal drugs in terms of volume and value supervised by PDEA occurred under the Duterte administration, the first on June 2, 2022, involving 2.4 metric tons of illegal drugs worth ₱14.29 billion, followed by 3.7 metric tons valued at ₱19.96 billion on March 16, 2023 (a historical record) and, 2.9 metric tons valued at ₱16.08 billion on October 9, 2025 (contributed by Jimmy Mendoza).