Working with other agencies, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that it was able to seize P21.72 billion worth of illegal drugs since the start of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
During the agency’s 21st anniversary celebration at the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City, director general Moro Virgilio Lazo announced their accomplishments from July 1, 2022, until April 30, 2023
The latest PDEA data showed 44,866 drug personalities, including 3,169 high-target values, were arrested during the same period.
There were at least 32,225 anti-illegal drugs operations, while authorities had dismantled 527 drug dens and a clandestine shabu laboratory.
Some 27,206 villages out of 42,045 barangays were declared drug-cleared as of April 30, and that 8,332 villages are still drug-affected.
Lazo spearheaded the wreath-laying rites in honor of PDEA personnel who died in the performance of their duty.
Philippine National Police director Benjamin Acorda was the anniversary celebration’s guest of honor and speaker.
“The figures are good,” he said, referring to the accomplishments, operations and number of arrests.
“Right now and we are doing our best talaga together with the efforts on demand reduction and supply reduction, and that an interagency coordination is ongoing,” he said.
According to the PNP chief, they are “targeting personalities, continuously building up our intelligence reports on this and so far I think there are coordination with other agencies, especially the PDEA.”
“It is the no. 1 drug enforcement agency. Our coordination is okay. We know, we have some personalities that are targeted but of course we cannot divulge it,” noted.