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PALO: The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas has confiscated some PHP308.03 million worth of illegal drugs during its two-year operations under the Marcos administration, focusing on drug supply and demand reduction.
Seized contrabands from July 2022 to July 2024 include 25,681.72 grams of shabu, 12,464.63 grams of marijuana, and 21,105 grams of cocaine.
The PNP regional office reported that the 1,358 ant-illegal drug operations during the period resulted in the surrender of 163 drug personalities, the deaths of 26 others, and the arrest 1,584 drug personalities.
‘The proliferation of illegal drugs remains a big problem in our country. In the region, we have arrests of drug personalities almost every day,’ PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Pawid said during the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ press briefing.
Among the notable accomplishments is the confiscation of PHP68 million worth of suspected shabu by joint police operatives near the port of Allen in Northern Sam
ar province from an individual reportedly transporting illegal drugs from Luzon to Mindanao on Jan. 31, 2023.
On March 8 this year, a fisherman turned over to the police 20 bricks of cocaine wrapped in plastic with a value of PHP111.85 million. The illegal drugs reportedly dumped into the sea were found in the coastal waters of Arteche, Eastern Samar.
‘The biggest challenge is our geographic location. We are an island, and the source of drugs is Luzon. It is shipped to the region through several ports. We don’t have enough detection dogs even in our major ports,’ Pawid told reporters.
He has called on local government units to make the barangay anti-drug abuse council function, as the body plays a vital role in reducing the supply and demand of illegal drugs.
‘It is easier to fight illegal drugs at the barangay level. The village officials know who the people in the community are involved in selling and using drugs,’ Pawid said.
He added they have been exerting more efforts in their intensified campaign
against illegal drugs in support of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s BIDA program to reduce drug demand in the communities.
BIDA, which stands for Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan, underscores the continued intensity of the government’s war against drugs through the operations of the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies.
Source: Philippines News Agency
