No more big illegal drug labs being monitored in PH, says PDEA chief

MANILA, Philippines — There are no more big illegal drug laboratories now being monitored in the country at present, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Wilkins Villanueva said Friday.

“Actually, wala na kaming na-mo-monitor na malaking laboratory right now. Sa Pilipinas, lahat ng droga na nasa atin ngayon galing sa labas. Ito yung effort natin ng PNP (Philippine National Police) at  Customs para mahinto na ito,” Villanueva said during a press briefing in Cavite, responding to a query about illegal drug laboratories in the country.

(Actually, we are not monitoring big laboratories now. In the Philippines, all drugs are being sourced outside of the country. This is our effort together with the  PNP and Customs to stop this.)

Villanueva said they are still focusing on stopping the demand for illegal drugs in the country.

“While we are doing it, we are doing corresponding action dun sa demand side. Kung walang demand, definitely hindi magpapapasok dahil hindi na siya profitable,” the PDEA chief said.

(While we are doing it, we are doing the corresponding action on the demand side. If there is no demand, definitely drugs will not come in because it will not be profitable.)

From July 1, 2016, to May 31, 2020, PDEA’s records showed that 245,145 drug suspects have been arrested in 168,525 anti-drug operations.

PDEA also recorded P43.58 billion worth of narcotics seized since 2016.

Since 2016, PDEA said authorities discovered over 560 dens and clandestine drug laboratories in the country.

/MUF