PDEA: 10,000 drug suspects arrested from January to November 2012

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)

MANILA, Philippines — Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested close to 10,000 individuals, among them 65 foreign nationals, in more than 24,000 anti-illegal drugs operations from January to November this year.

In a statement on Wednesday, PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the agency also raided seven clandestine drug laboratories, 58 drug dens, a chemical warehouse and nine shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) “tiangge” or places where one could buy and sniff illegal drugs for a fee.

“This is another banner year for us. Our mindset has not changed. (We understand) that we are only as good as our last accomplishment,” Cacdac said.

With the help of other government agencies, he said PDEA operatives uprooted and destroyed marijuana plants in 148 plantation sites throughout the country.

During the same period, Cacdac said the PDEA-led Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group arrested 28 drug couriers who tried to sneak in illegal drugs through the airports.

He said PDEA agents also arrested 28 suspected members of the dreaded African Drug Syndicates, which preyed on Filipino women who unwittingly became drug couriers.

The retired police general, who took over the helm of PDEA in October, vowed to lead the government’s primary anti-narcotics agency in carrying out a more aggressive campaign against illegal drugs in 2013.

“One of PDEA’s operational thrusts is to neutralize priority high-value targets and quality operations,” Cacdac stressed.

Cacdac said the 24,030 operations the agency conducted against drug personalities and illegal drug establishments during the 11-month period this year almost doubled the 12,269 operations PDEA carried out in 2011.

PDEA was also able to surpass its target of not less than 9,591 successful anti-illegal drug operations in 2012, he added.

He said the operations led to the arrest of 9,601 drug personalities, including 65 foreigners involved in trafficking and manufacturing of illegal drugs, and the filing of 11,845 cases in court for violation of Republic Act 9165, more known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“This demonstrates PDEA’s commitment to file air tight cases to ensure conviction of drug offenders,” he said.