POLICE operatives have seized nearly P15 billion worth of illegal drugs in the government’s continuing war on drugs since January 1, the PNP said yesterday.
The contraband, mostly shabu, was seized in 37,401 police operations across the country, said Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, chief of the PNP’s Public Information Office.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Tuaño said 45,546 drug personalities were arrested during the same period.
This included the drug haul worth P628.4 million from August 29 to September 4 during 1,046 police operations that also resulted in the arrest of 1,213 drug personalities.
“Overall, from January 1 to September 4 this year, the PNP conducted 37,401 (anti-drug) operations,” said Tuaño.
“These (operations) resulted in the arrest of 45,546 individuals and seizure of illegal drugs worth P14.89 billion,” said Tuaño.
During the briefing, Tuaño also reported the arrest of 1,012 wanted persons from August 20 to September 4.
Two of the arrested wanted persons are facing charges of kidnapping with homicide. The suspects were arrested last September 3 in Pasay City.
The case stemmed from the kidnapping of a 14-year-old Chinese student and his driver in Taguig City last February 20.
The driver’s body was found in San Rafael, Bulacan, with stab wounds, while the boy was rescued near a mall in Taguig City last February 25.
Police nabbed a Chinese and his cohort for reportedly selling P340,000 worth of suspected dangerous drugs in Mandaluyong City last Saturday.
Lt. Col. Melencio Nartatez, Mandaluyong acting police chief, identified the suspects as alias Li, 27, a Chinese, and Edith, 34. They were tagged high-value individuals (HVI) under the Unified Drug Watchlist.
Seize from them were several sachets containing more or less 50 grams of suspected shabu. – With Christian Oineza
