The Philippine National Police (PNP) have seized some P13-billion worth of illegal drugs from various anti-narcotics operations since 2014.
Data released by the PNP Directorate for Operations also showed that from January 2014 to April 2016, police carried out a total of 54,886 anti-drug operations that resulted in the arrest of 85,749 people and 71,405 cases filed in court.
“Significantly, the PNP anti-drug campaign in 2015 posted a 50.56 increase in the number of arrested violators of the RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and a 46.22 percent hike in the number of cases filed in court,” according to PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor.
Based on records, police arrested 28,360 drug offenders in 2014. The number of arrests rose to 42,700 in 2015.
This year, mainly through the efforts of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG), the PNP hit the ground running against organized crime groups engaged in drug trafficking.
From January to April this year, 14,689 have been arrested in a total of 9,904 police operations.
More notable among the successful anti-drugs efforts this year was the interdiction operation on a clandestine shabu laboratory in Angeles City last March 16 that yielded some R50-million worth of controlled substances used in manufacturing shabu. (ELENA L. ABEN)