THE PNP has confiscated more than P11 billion worth of illegal drugs during the first half of the year, PNP chief Archie Gamboa reported yesterday.
In a press conference in Camp Crame, Gamboa said that from January 1 to June 30 this year, police anti-illegal drugs operatives conducted 25,612 operations nationwide that led to the arrest of 38,178 drug users and pushers.
“Police anti-drug units in coordination with PDEA regional units seized a total of 1,571.33 kilograms, that’s 1.57 metric tons of crystal meth or shabu; and 2,907 kilograms or 2.9 metric tons of marijuana — all with an estimated value of P11.03 billion,” Gamboa said.
Gamboa said the second half of the year also got off to a big start with the arrest of eight members of a big-time drug syndicate that led to the recovery of 10 kilograms of shabu worth P68 million in an operation in Meycauayan, Bulacan.
Last Saturday, Gamboa said four suspected pushers were arrested by the PDEA and Quezon City Police District for trafficking four kilos of shabu worth P27 million. Also last Saturday, he said the Cordillera Police Regional Office destroyed some 63,000 fully-grown marijuana plants in a secret farm in Tinglayan, Kalinga.
Last Sunday, Gamboa said a female drug pusher was arrested in Taguig City which led to the confiscation of 500 grams of shabu valued at P3.4 million.
A jobless man was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Pasig City on Sunday night.
Col. Moises Villaceran, local police chief, identified the suspect as Joseph Tipay, 50, Barangay Sumilang. — Christian Oineza
