The Police Regional Office-Cordillera has reported the arrest of 423 illegal drugs suspects and seizure of P586-million worth illegal drugs in the region for 2020.
This was the result of the 433 anti-illegal drugs operations conducted regionwide last year through buy-bust, marijuana eradication operations, search warrants, warrants of arrest, police checkpoints, and other law enforcement operations.
PRO-Cor Information Office Deputy Chief Marnie Abellanida reported that of the 423 drug suspects arrested, 345 of them were identified as drug users and 78 are drug pushers.
More than 300 charges were filed in various courts.
PRO-Cor records also showed that among the arrested suspects, 170 were identified as high-value targets.
The arrests were made by various provincial and city police offices with Benguet Provincial Police Office having the most number of arrests with 137, followed by Baguio City Police Office with 13, Kalinga PPO with 92, Abra PPO with 32, Mountain Province PPO with 21, Apayao PPO with seven, and Ifugao PPO with three.
Aside from arrests, a total of P70,656,557 worth of assorted illegal drugs were seized, confiscated, and recovered during various police operations.
The contrabands include 126 sachets shabu, seven sachets marijuana, 177 marijuana bricks, and 86 fully grown marijuana plants.
During the marijuana eradication, a total of P516,445,705-worth of marijuana plants were uprooted and destroyed in 2020.
The marijuana eradication operations took place in Kalinga, Benguet, and Mountain Province.
Abellanida said PRO-Cor is strengthening the police operations and intensifying intelligence build-up against personalities involved in illegal drugs.
He said a more forceful, intensive, and unrelenting campaign against drug pushers and users is also being implemented in the region. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 18, 2024
