Palace: PDEA report says P592 million worth of illegal drugs seized in January

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MANILA, Philippines — Government authorities have confiscated around P592 million worth of illegal drugs in January, Malacañang said Monday.

Citing the report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said among the illegal drugs seized were “shabu” or crystal meth worth P403.4 million; cocaine powder worth P15.9 million; ecstasy tablets worth P19.9 million; kush worth P19.8 million, and marijuana in the form of dried leaves, bricks, plants, and stalks worth “millions.”

The PDEA data, the PCO noted, identify shabu and marijuana as the country’s two most frequently used narcotics.

It also said that based on PDEA’s report, 4,499 drug personalities were arrested and 7,720 drug cases were filed in January. Specifically, 4,258 had been arrested over shabu while 240 over marijuana.

Moreover, 6,109 barangays, mainly in Eastern Visayas (1,380) were declared “drug-free” in January. To date, 64.1% (26,952) of the 42,046 barangays nationwide have already been declared “drug-free,” according to the PCO, still citing the PDEA report.

“Some 8,585 barangays or 20.4 percent remain drug-affected, with Metro Manila recording the highest number of drug-affectation with 53.9 percent,” the PCO said in a statement.

The least drug-affected region is Mimaropa, with 2.8%, it added.

The PCO said that authorities had increased their surveillance and monitoring of the nation’s airports, seaports, and mail and parcel services to stop the importation of illegal drugs, prohibited precursors, and vital chemicals. Kimberly Aquino, trainee

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