(File photo)
MANILA – Nearly 28,000 villages across the country have been cleared of illegal drugs since the start of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Friday.
In its latest report on the national anti-drug campaign, PDEA said 27,968 out of 42,000 barangays (villages) in the country have been declared "drug-cleared" from July 1, 2022 to Nov. 30 this year while 7,543 are still being cleared by authorities.
These barangays have reached drug-cleared status after the issuance of a certification by members of the oversight committee on the barangay drug-clearing program, it added.
Authorities also seized a total of PHP30.39 billion worth of illegal drugs across the country in the same period.
The amount included 4,120.52 kg. of shabu, 48.02 kg. of cocaine, 54,012 ecstasy tablets and 3,106.24 kg. of marijuana, it added.
The latest PDEA data also showed 72,676 drug suspects were arrested during 52,966 anti-illegal drug operations.
Authorities also dismantled 811 drug dens and a clandestine shabu laboratory during the same period. (PNA)
