COLLARED. A suspect identified only as "Lyndon" is shown in this undated photo being frisked by plainclothes police operatives moments after he was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Nagcarlan, Laguna. The Laguna Provincial Police Office (LPPO) arrested 75 suspects during a provincewide anti-illegal drugs operation from April 1-7, 2024. (Photo courtesy of LPPO)
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Lawmen in this province rounded up 75 individuals allegedly involved in illegal drugs in separate operations across the province from April 1 to 7.
Col. Gauvin Mel Unos, acting director of the Laguna Provincial Police Office (LPPO), told reporters on Monday that the province-wide anti-narcotics effort targeted mainly small-time drug pushers and users.
He attributed the large number of suspects collared to information provided by citizens who have grown weary of drug-related activities in their neighborhoods.
Unos said the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) recently organized by the LPPO has proven extremely effective in identifying drug personalities operating at the community level.
"With the help and cooperation of citizens, especially the BIN in various towns in Laguna, police operations proved particularly successful. The Laguna police will not allow illegal drugs to spread further… and we will make sure they are kept away from the youth," he said.
The week-long campaign led to the confiscation of over 62 grams of shabu and some 34 grams of marijuana with a combined street value of over PHP341,000, he added.
Following their arrests, the drug suspects are being held at police custodial facilities within their respective towns pending the filing of charges, and the narcotics seized from them have been submitted for forensic examination. (PNA)
