Manila: The Philippine National Police: has seized around PHP119 million worth of illegal drugs and smuggled cigarettes and arrested 27 most wanted persons from Feb. 14 to 16.
According to Philippines News Agency, the PNP's operations led to the arrest of 26 Filipino fugitives and one foreign national for serious offenses including rape, murder, frustrated murder, statutory rape, qualified rape of a minor, cybercrime violations, and illegal drugs-related offenses. The multi-regional efforts dismantled drug supply lines with the recovery of illegal drugs valued at over PHP94 million and intercepted smuggled cigarettes worth more than PHP25 million during the operations.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. highlighted the organization's commitment to aggressive and disciplined enforcement operations. 'In just three days, we have simultaneously demonstrated the strength of our campaign against wanted persons, illegal drugs, and smuggling. This is clear proof that we have intensified police operations nationwide,' Nartatez stated.
In Benguet and Mountain Province, police units uprooted and incinerated on-site over 74,000 fully grown marijuana plants, along with hundreds of kilos of dried marijuana stalks and leaves, with a combined estimated value of PHP49.7 million. A significant discovery was made in Sadanga, Mountain Province, where operatives found two abandoned sacks containing marijuana bricks and packaged marijuana weighing 20 kilos and valued at PHP2.4 million.
The PNP also made significant strides against shabu trafficking. At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, operatives arrested a South African national carrying six kilos of suspected shabu worth PHP40.8 million. In Iloilo, separate buy-bust operations led to the arrest of four individuals, including three high-value targets, and the recovery of over 532 grams of suspected shabu valued at PHP3.6 million.
'This is not just about arrests. What matters is cutting the supply line. Every kilo of illegal drugs we seize means lives saved and communities protected,' Nartatez emphasized.
The PNP dealt significant blows to smuggling networks, seizing large volumes of smuggled cigarettes in multiple operations. In Malabang, Lanao del Sur, checkpoint operations resulted in the confiscation of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP4.28 million and the arrest of two suspects. In Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, authorities arrested three suspects and seized 32 boxes of smuggled cigarettes valued at PHP1.83 million. The largest seizure occurred in the territorial waters off Sta. Cruz Island, Zamboanga City, where operatives intercepted 280 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth PHP16.04 million, arresting two suspects in the process.
Nartatez called on the public to continue supporting law enforcement efforts by reporting suspicious activities, criminal movements, and illegal trade in their communities.
