Over P59-M illegal drugs seized by PDEA in March
OVER P59 million worth of shabu and other prohibited drugs were confiscated by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in March amid their stepped-up anti-narcotics campaign, PDEA chair, Director General Isagani R. Nerez said on Wednesday.
The official said that their 53 anti-drug operations last month likewise led to the arrest of 53 of their top targets.
He said that the P59.14 million worth of prohibited substance they recovered in March includes 3.690 kilos of shabu, 5,703 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 11.30 grams of Kush, which is a high grade marijuana derivative, and 136,00 pieces of fully-grown cannabis plants.
Director General Nerez said that the large volume of seized marijuana plants points to a successful eradication operation, most likely conducted in identified cultivation areas in the country, particularly in the Cordillera region.
Meanwhile, the presence of Kush—a potent and more expensive cannabis variant—signals a growing trend in the local drug scene toward synthetic and premium-grade narcotics, he said.
In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the official said that the PDEA’s performance metrics reflect a sustained and aggressive posture in the national anti-drug campaign.
“With a high arrest-to-operation ratio, PDEA continues to demonstrate operational efficiency and a commitment to reducing the supply and availability of illegal drugs in communities,” he said.
The PDEA leadership also recommended the continued intensification of intelligence-driven operations aimed at high-value targets and organized drug groups. In addition, enhanced collaboration with local enforcement units and community stakeholders is crucial, particularly in regions with detected large-scale drug cultivation.
