PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos yesterday lauded the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) headed by Brigadier Gen. Remus B. Medina for their string of major anti-narcotics accomplishments since he took over as the country’s 27th top cop last November leading to the seizure of an estimated P190 million worth of shabu and the arrest of 51 top drug targets.

The top cop however said the PNP-DEG must not rest on its laurels and ensure that ‘high-value targets’ in the country won’t be having a good time to sleep while continuing their illegal drug activities.

“Congratulations are also in order for members of the PNP-DEG and other PNP units and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency who partnered with each other in the conduct of those major anti-drug operations,” said Gen. Carlos.

Medina assured the public that they are working to accomplish more as as they work 24/7 this Christmas season and during the election period next year.

“Our unit never sleeps as we further intensify our anti-illegal drug operations with the end in view of successfully prosecuting the arrested offenders in court. At the same time, we are also enhancing our effort to make the public fully aware of the harmful effects of dangerous drugs,” the official said.

This month alone, 51 ‘high-value targets’ were accounted for by the PNP-DEG as a result of 41 anti-narcotics operations.

Around 9:45 p.m. last Friday, PNP-DEG led an anti-narcotics operation at Block 14, Lot 45 in Camachile Street, South Fairway Homes in Barangay Landayan, San Pedro City, Laguna.

Arrested weere three ‘HVTs’ and seized were 10 kilograms of shabu worth P68 million.

Medina identified the accused drug traffickers as 35-year old Ace Arciaga, owner of the target house, Shamewayne Darvin,19, of 180 Rosal St, Purok3 , Bayanan, Muntinlupa City and Benz Gonzales,21, of Block 3, Solema St., also in Bayanan.

The official said that a 17-year old male from the same Muntinlupa City area was placed under police custody after he was found in the company of the suspects. He said they are still determining the real involvement of the teenager with the jailed suspects.

Medina said they conducted the sting with the help of the Police Regional Office 4-A Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and Regional Special Operations Group under Brig. Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz, the Laguna Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headed by Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva.

Recovered from the possession of the suspects were 10 kilograms of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ with a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P68 million and the boodle money topped by several marked bills.

All the suspects are now under the custody of the PNP-DEG and undergoing questioning regarding the main source of the drugs confiscated from them.

Medina said the arrested adult suspects will be facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The offense is punishable with life imprisonment and a P10 million fine upon conviction by the court.

The teenage suspect will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, he added.

Last November 29, another PNP-DEG-led sting in Caloocan resulted in the arrest of a top drug trafficker in Metro Manila and the seizure of 15 kilograms of shabu worth P102 million.

Arrested during the sting along Baesa Road in Barangay 161, Zone 14, District 1 in Caloocan was Randy Rafael alias ‘RR,’ a 42-year old resident of no. 2279 P. Dandan Street in Pasay City.

Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were 15 teabags with Chinese markings, each containing a kilo of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine,’ all valued at P102 million, the boodle money topped by two marked P1,000 bills and a mobile phone he used in making contact with a poseur.

Members of the PNP-DEG Special Operations Unit-National Capital Region, PDEA-NCR, NCR Police Office Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and Regional Intelligence Division under Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr., PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-NCR Field Unit headed by Colonel Randy Glenn F. Silvio and the Caloocan City Police Station were involved in the successful sting, said Carlos.

“Since my first day as the Top Cop, I have made sure that we will continue to intensify our campaign against illegal drug peddlers and put them all behind bars,” Carlos said as he congratulated the PNP-DEG for initiating the ‘intelligence-drive’ anti-narcotics operation in coordination with the PDEA headed by Villanueva. Carlos and Villanueva belong to Philippine Military Academy ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988.

Based on initial investigation, Rafael was found to be working for a Chinese drug personality known only by the alias “Lim” who is openly distributing illegal drugs in NCR and nearby areas.

“Ipinag-utos ko ang malalim pang imbestigasyon at operasyon upang mahuli itong si alias Lim at matigil ang kanilang mga masasamang gawain,” Carlos said.

Brig. Gen. Medina said they have discovered that the suspect and his main source operate on a ‘consignment basis’ or spot cash payment depending on the capacity of their distributors to pay for each transaction.

“We found out that the items are being delivered personally or thru dead drop scheme by the suspects,” the PNP-DEG director said.

The arrested suspect is now being held at the PNP-DEG lock-up facility in Camp Crame.

He will be facing a non-bailable case for sale and possession of prohibited drugs which is punishable by life imprisonment and a maximum fine of P10 million upon conviction.

Medina said that 47 other ‘HVTs’ have been arrested and more than

P20 million worth of shabu and other prohibited substances were accounted for by his unit since this month.

He said their operations which started last December 6 were part of their intensified anti-narcotics campaign in time for the yuletide season and the 2022 national and local elections which may be taken advantage of by drug trafficking syndicates nationwide.

“Our war on illegal drugs has been more intensive despite the new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic which has also threatened to further compound the danger of illegal drugs in the country,” said the official.

Medina said they are intensifying their war on drugs thru the conduct of more ‘intelligence-driven’ operations amid findings that the pandemic has resulted in the unforeseen proliferation of illegal drug dealers and suppliers.

The official said that from December 6 to 12, they launched 39 anti-narcotics operations which include the conduct of 16 buy-bust operations, service of 20 warrants of arrest and three marijuana eradication drives.

The operations resulted in the arrest of 47 suspects and the recovery of 1,064 grams of shabu, 15 grams of Kush which is a high-grade marijuana derivative, 18,000 fully-grown marijuana seedlings, two bottles of cannabis oil and a gram of marijuana leaves, all worth at P20,0378,228.00.