More potent crystal ecstacy seized in Paranaque operation

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has discovered in an operation in Paranaque City pieces of crystal ecstasy, a new drug that is allegedly more potent than other party drugs, according to a Friday report by John Consulta on 24 Oras.

According to PDEA, crystal ecstasy is more dangerous than liquid ecstasy or ecstasy tablets due to its stronger effects.

"Instead of taking shabu and ecstasy, kasi iba't iba yung tama nila eh, crystal ecstacy na lang kasi according to our informant ang crystal ecstacy daw hindi nakakatulog yung gumagamit, meaning he can go on partying two, three, four days without sleep," PDEA Special Enforcement director Levi Ortiz said.

"Delikado yan kasi pag bumaba na yung tama, baka diretsyo na siyang mamatay kasi hindi na kayanin ng heart niya tsaka sa nervous system siya," he added.

PDEA said the number of individuals using crystal ecstasy was slowly increasing.

"Celebrities, well-off individuals, mga millennials na mahilig sa party. Lalo na kung, lalo na yung mga techno-music," Ortiz said.

The drug was discovered during a raid conducted by the PDEA Special Enforcement Service in Paranaque.

Authorities nabbed alleged drug pusher Marc Gian Reyes who hid the GBL or liquid ecstasy inside light bulbs.

Reyes pointed at his suppliers Vincent Michael Go Bon and his live-in partner Ma. Karina Esperanza who were both later arrested.

Though the suspects declined to comment, authorities found transactions and pictures of party drug products on their phones, the report said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News