PDEA: More than P89-B illegal drugs seized in 6 years

MANILA – Since the onset of the Duterte administration’s campaign on illegal drugs in the middle of 2016, authorities have seized a total of PHP89.29 billion worth of narcotics nationwide.

Based on the latest Real Numbers data as of April 30 and released on Sunday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) stated that the items included PHP76.55 billion worth of shabu.

Authorities have destroyed 8,177.79 kilograms (kg) of shabu, 4,226.08 kg of marijuana, 21.93 kg of ecstasy, 534.20 kg of cocaine, and 3,483.67 kg of other dangerous drugs.

From July 2016 to April 2022, a total of 1,156 drug dens and 19 clandestine shabu laboratories were also dismantled.

A total of 15,096 high-value targets (HVTs) nationwide were arrested — 6,768 HVTs from high-impact operations; 4,043 target-listed suspects; 1,670 drug den maintainers; 797 drug group leaders/members; 529 government employees; 402 elected officials; 364 foreigners; 295 included on wanted lists; 126 uniformed personnel; 78 armed group members; and 24 prominent personalities.

Authorities also apprehended 341,494 other people involved in illegal narcotics.

The 4,372 arrested minors include 2,635 pushers; 1,004 possessors; 453 users; 246 visitors of drug den; 10 drug den maintainers; 18 drug den employees; three cultivators, one lab employee; and two runners.

After court proceedings, the rescued minors were turned over to the Bahay Pag-asa reform centers of local government units within eight hours of police custody, before turning them over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

At least 25,061 out of the 42,045 villages are now drug-cleared; 6,574 are drug unaffected/drug-free; and 10,410 have yet to be cleared of illegal drugs.

The communities have been declared drug-free after members of the oversight committee issued a certification.

According to the data collected, 6,248 suspects died during 236,620 anti-illegal drug operations.