LATEST anti-drug accomplishments by the Marcos administration topped by a P31.98-billion drug haul from July 1, 2022 to last January 31 have been released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chaired by Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo, the Journal Group learned.

According to the agency, confiscated during the period were nearly 4.318 tons of shabu, nearly 50.5 kilograms of cocaine, 54,013 pieces of the designer drug called ecstasy and around 3.2 tons of dried marijuana leaves.

The value of prohibited drugs, chemical precursors and essential chemicals as well as laboratory equipment recovered during the18-month period was placed by the PDEA at P31.98 billion.

The all-out war against illegal drug trafficking and abuse ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. from Day 1 of his office has also resulted in the arrest of 79,841 drug personalities, 5,366 of them identified as ‘high-value targets.’

Government agents from the PDEA, the Philippine National Police headed by General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. and other law enforcement agencies during the period conducted a total of 58,496 anti-narcotics operations and dismantled one clandestine drug laboratory and 856 drug dens.

At present, efforts are still underway to clear the remaining 7,264 ‘drug-affected’ barangays in the country. Since July 2022, the Marcos administration has already declared 28,247 barangays as ‘drug-cleared.’

Director General Lazo has ordered an intensified campaign against illegal drugs nationwide, calling on his men to fully coordinate their operations with their allied law enforcement agencies led by the police force.

Two weeks ago, two anti-narcotics operations conducted by the PDEA led in the dismantling of a drug den and the arrest of five suspects including a local government employee in the countryside.

The smashed drug dive was located in Barangay Matina Aplaya in Davao City which was raided by members of the PDEA Regional Office. Arrested during the operation were the drug den maintainer identified as Agnes Ricablanca alias ‘Aking,’46, a regional target listed drug personality.

Four others who were identified as ‘visitors’ of the drug dive and identified as Mark Anthony Achapero, June-Lie Dalagosa, Rodel Morales and Ronnel Ricablanca were also arrested during the PDEA operation which was made with the support of the local National Bureau of Investigation, the Naval Intelligence Security Group and the Toril Police Station past 5 p.m. Sunday.

The PDEA said that ‘Aking’ Ricablanca was arrested after she sold a gram of shabu worth P10,000 to an undercover officer. Agents who raided the suspect’s residence-cum-drug den arrested the four other suspects and confiscated nine more heat-sealed plastic sachets containing at least 14 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ valued at P95,200 and assorted drug paraphernalia.

The 3rd suspect identified as Ranel David, a 36-year old resident of Sitio Agkuyapnit in Bgy. Talon, Altavas, Aklan was arrested in a buy-bust operation past 7 a.m. Monday.

David was described as a local government employee who has been considered as a ‘high-value target’ due to his alleged illegal drug trafficking activities.

Recovered from the suspect were about 18 grams of shabu worth P122,000 and the P10,000 worth of buy-bust money topped by a marked bill as well as P858 in cash which were believed to be part of his drug proceeds.

All three suspects are now facing non-bailable charges for sale and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the PDEA said.