Drug operations in WV up by 36% but seized drugs down by 18%

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The number of police anti-narcotics operations in Western Visayas increased by 36.39 percent in the first half of 2023.

Records from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 showed that different units conducted 1,087 operations from January 1 to June 30, compared to 797 in the same period in 2022.

Consequently, the number of arrested persons also increased by 48.48 percent, from 988 in 2022 to 1,467 this year.

But the volume of confiscated illegal drugs – both shabu and marijuana – went down.

More than 16.759 kilos of shabu were recovered so far this year, which is lower by 17.94 percent from 20.422 kilos last year.

Seized marijuana only totaled 1.524 kilos or a 76 percent reduction from last year’s 6.357 kilos.

The standard drug price of confiscated drugs this year was pegged at P114 million or 18.25 percent lower than P139.6 million in 2022.

Major Mary Grace Borio, PRO-6 spokesperson, said the increase in illegal drug operations but a decrease in the volume of seized drugs could mean that illegal drug suppliers are hurting because of the PNP’s intensified campaign.

“They had to do smaller repackaging so that their supply won’t be swept clean once drug peddlers get arrested. In any event that a pusher gets arrested, there are still supplies that would be left with other distributors,” she said.

Meanwhile, the case of the campaign against loose firearms is a different picture.

There were lower operations but the number of confiscated firearms increased.

There were 231 operations against loose firearms compared to 342 last year.

“However, our confiscated firearms rose by 15.6 percent,” Borio said.

In 2022, there were only 250 seized guns against 289 this year.

The number of surrendered/deposited firearms also increased by 12.36 percent – from 1,643 in 2022 to 1,846 this year.

In a press statement, PRO-6 said that these accomplishments are proof that PNP chief Benjamin Acorda’s 5-focused agenda, specifically on honest and aggressive law enforcement operations, are effective and efficient in curbing criminality and criminals in the region.

Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, PRO-6 chief, said that PRO-6 took pride in the said high-impact accomplishments.

“We are committing ourselves, and will utilize all available resources to champion our anti-criminality campaign,” he said.

The region’s top cop also vowed to work harder in enforcing the law without fear or favor.