Cops seize P18.7B illegal drugs, jail over 44K crime suspects–PNP chief
NEARLY P18.7 billion worth of shabu and other illegal substance were seized by agents of the Philippine National Police from January to September this year amid its intensified campaign against prohibited drugs, PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil said Saturday.
The nine-month operations also saw the police force accounting for 44,456 targets across the country as a result of 36,452 anti-narcotics operations, the Journal Group learned.
All suspects are now in jail facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean S. Fajardo said that seized by police forces during the period were some 2.415 tons of shabu, an estimated 4.661 tons of dried marijuana leaves; around 6.5 million pieces of fully-grown cannabis plants and seedlings, nearly 28 kilos of cocaine, 5,610 grams of Ecstasy and 1,974 pieces of Kush, a high-grade marijuana derivative.
From July 2022 to June 30, 2024, the PNP accounted for nearly 97,000 drug targets nationwide with less drug-related deaths.
Official PNP records showed that from July 1, 2022 to June 30 this year, police conducted a total of 96,978 anti-drug operations which led in the arrest of 121,655 suspected drug personalities.
A total of 193 also died during police operations which is very far from the 702 recorded during the same period by the UP Third World Studies Center.
The PNP is puzzled where the UP Center got its figures on persons who died during police operations which is 507 more than the official police records.
Official PNP records said that during the period, the Police Regional Office 11 in Southern Mindanao recorded the most number of persons who died during police operations with 114 followed by the PRO8 in Eastern Visayas with 20; the PRO-Bangsamoro Administrative Region with 17 and the PRO12 in Socsksargen region with 10.
The National Capital Region Police Office made the most number of drug arrests with 29,556 and only 1 reported death during police operation followed by the PRO 4-A in Calabarzon region with 27,926 with 5 reported deaths during police operation.
Next came the PRO7 in Central Visayas with 14,933 with zero death during the period; and the PRO3 in Central Luzon with 14,849 and 6 reported deaths during police operations.
The other regions had the following accomplishments: PRO1 in Ilocos-Pangasinan region with 2,231 with zero death; PRO2 in Cagayan Valley with 1,428 arrests with zero death; PRO4-B in Mimaropa region with 599 arrest with zero death; PRO5 with 2,312 arrests and 5 persons reported to have died during police operations;
PRO6 with 5,022 arrests and 3 recorded deaths; PRO9 with 2,653 arrests and 5 recorded deaths; PRO10 in Northern Mindanao with 5,120 arrests and 2 recorded deaths; PRO13 in Caraga region with 1,514 arrests and zero death; the PRO Cordillera with 673 arrests and zero death; and the PNP Drug Enforcement Group with 1,652 arrests and 5 reported deaths during police operations.
Brig. Gen. Matta, they have been conducting the ‘bloodless anti-drug operations’ with the support of their allied law enforcement agencies.
“We’re working overtime to neutralize more drug syndicates operating in our land and are calling on the citizenry to provide us with more information,” said the official.
Brig. Gen. Matta said that the PNP’s supply and demand reduction approach since the start of the Marcos Jr. administration is really showing promising results.
According to the PDEG director, they are targeting the drug supply chain by focusing on suppliers, manufacturers, and traffickers.
“Through intelligence gathering, surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation, we aim to reduce the availability of drugs and increase the risks and costs associated with engaging in illicit activities,” he said.
