Bicol: Police seized illegal drugs with an estimated street value of PHP3.2 million and arrested 17 drug personalities during 10 anti-illegal drug operations across the Bicol Region on Thursday. In a statement on Friday, Police Regional Office - Bicol Director Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio said police personnel confiscated 474.7 grams of suspected shabu.

According to Philippines News Agency, Silvio noted that of the 17 arrested suspects, two were high-value individuals, while 15 were street-level individuals (SLIs). One of the major drug seizures occurred in Barangay Bagumbayan Sur, Naga City, where a joint buy-bust operation led to the arrest of alias Ko, 65, a resident of Pasacao, Camarines Sur. Authorities confiscated 17 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing 364.3 grams, valued at PHP2.4 million.

An anti-drug operation was also carried out in Barangay Malasugui, Labo, Camarines Norte, where three SLIs were arrested during a buy-bust, identified as 'Sonny,' 'Jun,' and 'Paul,' all of legal age and residents of Camarines Norte. Police recovered from them suspected shabu weighing 58.7 grams, with an estimated street price of PHP399,000. The arrested suspects and all confiscated evidence were brought to the Labo Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

Silvio said the regional police will continue to intensify anti-criminality efforts, especially the campaign against illegal drugs, through stronger police operations, better coordination with law enforcers, and closer community engagement. 'We will not stop working together to maintain peace and order in Bicol. The fight against crime and illegal drugs is not just the police's responsibility - it is the collective duty of every citizen,' he said.