P35M illegal drugs confiscated in 2010

CEBU, Philippines - More than P35 million worth of dangerous drugs were confiscated by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 with the help of other law enforcement agencies in Central Visayas during their anti-narcotics operations for the whole year of 2010.

PDEA 7 Director Adrian Alvariño said that this accomplishment was achieved primarily because of the support of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

The PDEA spearheads the operations with a total volume of nearly 900 grams of shabu, amounting to more than P6 million in 79 operations last year.

They only confiscated some 50 grams in 2009 amounting to P350,000.

The PNP conducted 216 operations that led to the arrest and prosecution of 507 drug personalities, as well as the confiscation of 226 grams of shabu with a street value of nearly P3 million.

In 2009, the PNP made 145 operations wherein 419 were arrested and 933 grams of shabu amounting to P6.5 million were confiscated.

Joint operations of PDEA 7, PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines scored the most in the campaign with more than P26 million worth of shabu, marijuana and cocaine confiscated.

Aside from the dangerous drugs which are mostly composed of shabu, marijuana and cocaine, law enforcement agencies also confiscated 162 illegal firearms and two vehicles in their intensified campaign.

Law enforcement agency units arrested 713 persons in the anti-drug operations with 11 suspects listed as targets, and 126 in the watchlist. In 2009, 723 were arrested with 8 suspects in the list of targets and 129 in the watchlist.

Alvariño said the government has intensified the campaign against illegal drugs in Central Visayas and they surpassed their accomplishments in 2009.

Alvariño expects more operations to be conducted this year with the re-classification of naluphine hydrochloride commonly known as nubain, a pain killer, as a dangerous drug. (FREEMAN)