In 10 months: CCPO confiscates over P72M worth of shabu

CEBU, Philippines - More than P72 million worth of shabu have been confiscated so far by the Cebu City police from January to October this year, signifying an even intensified campaign against illegal drugs in the city, said a police official.

Superintendent Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch, said this figure is way better than what they have accomplished in the same period last year.

As per records of the City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group, the total amount of shabu confiscated from the start of this year until last month has reached to P72,687,392.

The figure is double than last year’s, said Santander.

Within 10 months, they were able to conduct at least 634 anti-illegal drug operations that resulted to the arrest of 178 illegal drug pushers and 715 drug users.

Based on the data, the biggest haul was in July, the same with last year.

Santander explained that the usual start of classes in schools in the city is when the demand for shabu is higher.

“Kay target man sad na nila ang students,” said Santander.

He said the accomplishment is in response to the directive of their regional police director, Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, to intensify their campaign against illegal drugs.

With the order, all police stations are required to conduct anti-illegal drug operations at least twice a month.

Santander said the cooperation of barangay officials also contributed a lot as they were the ones who give information to the police authorities about individuals suspected to be engaged in the illegal drug business.

The CIB chief said they are still monitoring those barangays noted to be highly-infested with illegal drugs.

He said they still could not consider these barangays as drug-free despite the several operations they have conducted there. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/NSA (FREEMAN)