‘Birada Semana’ in February posts decline in illegal drug haul

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The latest week’s aggressive anti-illegal drug operations saw a decline in shabu confiscation seized in police anti-narcotics operations all over the region.

Records from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 indicated more police operations during the Birada Semana that ran from Feb. 5 to 11, but with fewer volume of seized illegal drugs

Birada Semana is a weeklong enhanced managing police operations (E-MPO) and focused police operation on anti-criminality, wanted persons, illegal drugs, and illegal gambling.

During the Feb. 5 to 11 period, different police units in the region confiscated 1.906 kilograms of suspected shabu in 75 operations.

The shabu seized from 106 arrested suspects was valued at P12.967 million.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCCPO) conducted the most number of operations with 31.

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) mounted 12 operations followed by Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) with 10; and Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) with eight.

Despite having the most number of operations, NOCPPO’s drug haul pales in comparison to that of BCPO, ICPO and IPPO.

While almost P13 million of seized drugs might be big for Western Visayas, it was still a downturn from the last two months’ record.

For January’s Birada Semana, police confiscated around P22 million worth of suspected shabu in 69 operations.

On the other hand, December 2023’s Birada Semana recorded one of the biggest drug hauls with almost P49 million from 60 anti-illegal operations. This was a big leap from November 2023’s record with only more than P7 million worth of suspected shabu seized.

Major Mary Grace Borio, PRO-6 spokesperson, said that anti-illegal drug operations in the region are done on a daily basis.

She noted that some units were able to confiscate a bigger volume of illegal drugs even on non-Birada Semana days.

“What we could assure the public is that we are not waning our campaign against illegal drugs or any form of criminality, Birada Semana days or not,” Borio said.