(Infographics courtesy of PDEA)
MANILA – Authorities have arrested more than 5,000 drug high-value targets (HVTs) and seized nearly PHP32 billion worth of narcotics since the start of the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr administration's crackdown on illegal drugs in mid-2022, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported on Wednesday.
In its latest report on the national anti-drug campaign, PDEA said a total of 5,366 HVTs were arrested from July 1, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2024.
These individuals are among the 79,841 drug suspects arrested in 58,496 operations during the period, it added.
Authorities also seized a total of PHP31.98 billion worth of illegal drugs across the country in the same period.
This includes 4,317.46 kg. of shabu, 50.47 kg. of cocaine, 54,013 pieces of ecstasy tablets, and 3,197.19 kg. of marijuana, it added.
Meanwhile, PDEA said 28,247 out of 42,000 barangays (villages) in the country have been declared "drug-cleared" while 7,264 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 dismantled 856 drug dens and a clandestine shabu laboratory during the same period. (PNA)
