P22.8-B illegal drugs confiscated during July 2022 to April 2024 ops

APRIL 15, 2024
The Philippine National Police has confiscated P13-billion worth of illegal drugs at a checkpoint in Alitagtag, Batangas. Photo from the official Facebook page of the Batangas Provincial Information Office

MANILA, Philippines — A total of P22.8-billion worth of illegal drugs were confiscated during various operations conducted from July 2022 to April 2024, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Citing police data, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said authorities conducted about 86,203 operations from July 1, 2022, to April 14, 2024.

“Nag result ito pagka-ka-arrest ng 108,555, estimated drug price of illegal drugs ay umabot na po P22.8 billion pesos na,” Fajardo said in a press conference on Tuesday.

(This operation resulted in the arrest of 108,555 individuals, and the estimated drug price of illegal drugs confiscated has reached P22.8 billion.)

After this period, authorities had flagged down a van containing 2 tons or P13 billion worth of crystal meth or shabu — the “largest drug bust in the history of the country,” as described by Department of Interior and Local Government chief Benhur Abalos.

The second biggest drug haul before the Batangas checkpoint operation was the confiscation of P11 billion worth of shabu found in 1,589 tea bags seized in Infanta, Quezon province, last March 2022.

In the same year, reports said authorities also seized 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion during a buy-bust operation in Tondo, Manila, in October 2022.