PDEA seizes P29M drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Over P30 million worth of illegal drugs were confiscated by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 from July 1 to October this year.

PDEA-7 Director Jigger Montallana said they conducted 360 anti-drug operations throughout Central Visayas, resulting in the confiscation of illegal drugs.

“The total worth of the illegal drug substances we have confiscated from the various anti-drug operations for the almost four-month period was P28.61million,” Montallana said.

Montallana said marijuana was top on the list of illegal drugs that they seized. These came in various forms such as sticks, seedlings and plants, with a total of 231,578 grams. 

Shabu follows the list, Montallana said, with 3,448 grams. Based on PDEA-7 records, 23 of the 360 anti-drug operations were joined by the police force.

Montallana further said 443 personalities were arrested and 497 cases were filed in the courts.

Other illegal drugs confiscated were cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia.

The PDEA-7 director, however, did not cite a breakdown of the illegal drugs seized per province in Central Visayas but he said that Cebu, being the regional center, has the most number of anti-drug operations conducted.

“Cebu continues to be a transit point for illegal drugs for Mindanao and Luzon as well as a major market for the illegal drugs,” Montallana said.

He said this is the reason they are strengthening the security and monitoring of all entry and exit points especially roll-on roll-off (RORO) ports in Cebu province.

“We have also assigned K-9 units in some strategic places in some seaports in Cebu,” Montallana said. (FREEMAN)