The government has kept the momentum of its war on illegal drugs, posting an increase in the numbers of drug personalities arrested, illegal drugs seized, and drug dens dismantled in recent months.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police gave the latest “real numbers,” including the results of its anti-drug operations, during a recent press briefing in Malacañang.
“We were able to sustain the momentum of the national anti-illegal drugs campaign by attacking the illegal drugs problem on two strategic fronts of supply reduction by hitting hard on high-value targets, traffickers, and suppliers and demand reduction by persuasive dialogue with known drug personalities through “Project: Tokhang,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said.
From July 1, 2016 to March 20, 2018, PDEA Director Derrick Carreon said law enforcement agencies have conducted a total of 91,704 anti-drug operations and arrested 123,648 drug personalities. At least 4,075 drug personalities died during anti-drug operations.
“Anti-drug operations conducted posted an increase of 6,636 or 7.8 percent compared to the data from the last period,” Carreon said, referring to the figures posted last February.
“Drug personalities arrested increased by 2,561 or 2.12 percent while drug personalities who died during anti-drug operations increased by 54 or 1.34 percent,” he added.
Authorities also seized 2,620.5 kilograms of shabu worth P13.46 billion or an increase of 10.13 kilograms from an estimated P50.62 million since February. Dangerous drugs and laboratory equipment estimated at P19.67 billion were also confiscated during the same period, up by P68.82 million from February.
One-hundred eighty-nine illegal drug facilities composed of 180 drug dens and nine shabu laboratories were dismantled in the same period, according to Carreon.
Since July, the government has arrested 469 government workers for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. One-hundred ninety-nine of them were elected officials, 45 were uniformed personnel, and 225 were government employees. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
