P4.46-billion illegal drugs seized in 2008 - PNP

Amidst the dispute of drug enforcement agents and prosecutors, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that they have confiscated an estimated P4.46-billion worth of illegal drugs and neutralized 20 big-time foreign drug traffickers.

The PNP’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) reported to Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno that illegal drugs with a street value of about P4.46 billion were seized in 2008 in various parts of the country.

The arrested foreign drug traffickers included Taiwanese Chuang Fen Min alias Jacky Chuang; Ong Chen Chan alias Jason Chan; Chin Chien Yang alias Jeff Yang; and Chinese fugitive Cai Wen Xian, who was involved in drug smuggling in China.

Director Raul Bacalzo, AIDSOTF commander, said 20 foreign drug dealers and more than 10,947 local drug pushers and users were arrested, while 10,259 drug-related cases were filed in different courts.

Bacalzo said that the task force last year conducted 7,098 operations and helped dismantle eight clandestine narcotics laboratories.

“Despite being confronted with institutional challenges and operational constraints, the unwavering commitment of AIDSOTF and its regional anti-illegal special operations task groups nationwide to stem the production and trafficking of illegal drugs brought positive gains to the efforts of the PNP to ultimately contribute to the realization of a drug-free Philippines,” said Bacalzo in his report. – Cecille Suerte Felipe