PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Monday said the intensified campaign against illegal drugs in the country has already resulted in the seizure of more than P81 million worth of shabu and marijuana from January 1-16 alone.

Azurin added that these illegal drugs were recovered as a result of 1,831 police anti-narcotics operations which also led to the arrest of 2,518 drug offenders—146 of them considered as ‘high-value targets’ or big-time drug pushers.

“I would like to point out that anti-illegal drug operations are among the priority operational thrusts of the PNP this year with greater emphasis on demand reduction efforts through rehabilitation, treatment and training while simultaneously staging intelligence-driven operations in supply reduction by hitting hard on big-time drug syndicates and big personalities engaged in large-scale drug trafficking,” Gen. Azurin told newsmen at Camp Crame.

The PNP chief commended the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) headed by Brigadier Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas for scoring a major drug haul in Bicol region last week.

PRO5 agents on Thursday last week arrested a couple during a buy-bust operation in Naga City which led to the seizure of two kilograms of high-grade shabu worth at least P13.6 million.

Brig. Gen. Dimas identified the ‘high-value targets’ who were arrested without any shots being fired as Nellyn M. Tobias, 40; and her husband Ernan Tobias, 45.

He said that the two were apprehended in a buy-bust operation along Diversion Road, Zone 5 in Barangay Tabuco, Naga City past 9 p.m. last Thursday.

Prior to their arrest, the couple allegedly sold a plastic sachet containing P1.1 million worth of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ to an undercover officer. When subjected to a search, the two yielded a total of 2,000 grams of shabu with a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P13.6 million, the P1.1 million worth of buy-bust money topped by a marked P500 bill and a caliber 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing four live ammunition.

Brig. Gen Dimas said the two were arrested following weeks of surveillance jointly conducted by undercover officers from the PRO5 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and the respective DEUs of the Naga City Police , the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office and the Milaor and San Fernando Municipal Police Stations.

Members of the PRO5 Regional Special Operations Unit, Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group under Brig. Gen. Narciso D. Domingo were also involved in the successful anti-drug sting.

Both suspects are being held at the Naga City Police Station 5 lock-up facility facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A separate case for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 will also be filed against the accused.

hensive Dangerous Act of 2002 is now being prepared to be filed against the couple.

“I commend the tireless efforts of our Police Regional Office 5 officers under the leadership of Police Brigadier General Rudolph B Dimas, Regional Director, in this successful anti-illegal drug operation. The arrest of these drug dealers is a victory for our community and a step forward in our fight against illegal drugs. I thank the community for their continued support, and I encourage them to continue working with us to keep our streets safe,” Gen. Azurin said.