Police in the Cordillera region seized more than P231.6 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 20 suspects during a month long crackdown in January, authorities said Tuesday.
The Police Regional Office – Cordillera (PRO CAR) reported that 119 separate operations were conducted from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31 under the directives of PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
According to the Regional Operations Division, the campaign included 96 marijuana eradication operations, 19 buy-bust stings, three search warrant implementations, and three police responses.
The month long haul included 766,500 fully grown marijuana plants, 634,930 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 34,250 seedlings, 1,500 milliliters of marijuana oil, and 103.84 grams of shabu. The total estimated value of the confiscated substances is 231,642,712 pesos.
Of the 20 individuals arrested, police classified one as a “high-value individual” and 19 as “street-level individuals.”
Benguet Police Provincial Office led the region in seizures, accounting for 175.2 million pesos in confiscated drugs and six arrests. Kalinga followed with 55.8 million pesos in seized narcotics and five arrests.
In Baguio City, P448,188 worth of illegal drugs were also seized leading to the arrests of seven alleged dealers including a high-value suspect while in Abra, P138,584 seized with one arrest and in Apayao with P10,404 seized and one arrest.
Regional officials stated the operations are part of a sustained effort to maintain security and eliminate the influence of narcotics across the Cordillera Administrative Region. NLMonitor