Manila: Authorities seized PHP196.88 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 106 suspects in anti-drug operations conducted from Jan. 23 to 30, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Tuesday. PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez stated that the arrests and seizures resulted from 96 operations during this period.
According to Philippines News Agency, the confiscated drugs included 8,359.91 grams of suspected shabu, 8,197 grams of cocaine, 26,844.90 grams of "kush," 245,535 pieces of marijuana plants, 37,725.80 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 4,800 pieces of marijuana seedlings, 33,750 grams of marijuana stalks, and 2,601.40 ml of marijuana oil. Among those arrested were 70 drug pushers and 14 drug den visitors. All suspects will be charged under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while the seized items are under PDEA custody for forensic examination and court proceedings.
"We are stopping them at the borders, at cultivation sites, at distribution points, and on the streets. This effort is not only about confiscating drugs, but about saving lives, keeping families safe, and protecting our nation's future under Bagong Pilipinas," Nerez said.
In a related development, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano commended PDEA and the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group for a successful operation on Sunday that resulted in the arrest of two high-value targets and the seizure of PHP1 million worth of suspected shabu. "Peace and order allows communities to thrive and services to reach our people faster," Cayetano said in a statement Tuesday. "We commend our police officers and partner agencies for their vigilance and teamwork as we build a Transformative, Lively, and Caring City."
The operation, conducted on Earth Street in Barangay Napindan on Sunday night, netted approximately 150 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of PHP1,020,000. Taguig City Police Station chief Col. Julius A±onuevo remarked on the operation's success, highlighting the impact of intelligence-led policing and tight inter-agency coordination.
