PDEA: P59 million drugs seized in one week

MANILA, Philippines — Anti-narcotics operations conducted in one week resulted in the confiscation of illegal drugs valued at P59.14 million, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported yesterday.

The PDEA said 9.4 kilos of shabu, kush and weed as well as 136,000 marijuana plants were seized in 45 operations across the country from March 28 to April 4.

Fifty-three drug suspects were arrested.

The PDEA said the large volume of seized marijuana plants was a result of intensified operations targeting cultivation sites.

The presence of kush, meanwhile, signaled a growing trend among users toward synthetic and premium-grade narcotics.

The government’s primary anti-narcotics agency is pushing for more intelligence-driven operations against high-value targets and organized drug groups.

The PDEA said the enhanced collaboration with local enforcement units and community stakeholders is crucial, particularly in regions with large-scale drug cultivation.