The government’s intensified anti-narcotics campaign has resulted in the seizure of some P30.9 billion worth of illegal drugs in 2022, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In its 2022 accomplishment report presented to Malacañang this week, the PDEA said that aside from the multi-billion worth of drugs seized by law enforcement agencies, it also destroyed some P27.8 billion worth of drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECS).
And through more than 37,000 operations conducted by the agency and other law enforcement units, a total of 53,002 drug personalities were arrested, according to the PDEA, the country’s lead agency in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Some 237 marijuana sites were also eradicated, resulting in the destruction of P738.6 million worth of marijuana plants and derivatives, according to the PDEA report.
To reduce demand for illegal drugs, PDEA conducted 257,588 Preventive Education and Community Involvement (PECI) activities and established 111 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers, producing around 2,000 graduates and employing 894 individuals.
The PDEA said more than 300,000 Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) in drug-cleared barangays underwent community-based drug rehabilitation programs, while 67,045 PWUDs were given intervention programs.
The PDEA reported that among the commonly used drugs are methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu,” marijuana and methylenedioxymethamphetamine or “ecstasy,” with the majority of those arrested last year involved in shabu-related cases.
In terms of drug entry points, the PDEA said syndicates are exploiting the country’s archipelagic nature, transporting illegal drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals through seaports, airports, mail and parcel services and the vast expanse of the Philippine coastlines.
The PDEA also actively helped in the prosecution of drug personalities nationwide and filed 45,850 drug cases against them in 2022.
Out of 25,306 resolved cases last year, the PDEA said 21,112 or 83 percent resulted in convictions while 1,439 cases or 6 percent were dismissed by the courts.
Looking forward, PDEA is strengthening the implementation of its anti-illegal drugs strategies, particularly focusing on suppressing supply by intensifying the conduct of intelligence-driven and high-impact operations, arrest of top-level drug personalities, enhancing inter-agency collaboration and strengthening efforts in drug entry points to deter smuggling.
PDEA is also working for drug demand reduction by conducting National Anti-Drug Advocacy Campaign, forging close coordination with Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, supporting community-based drug rehabilitation programs, and intensifying information dissemination to promote a stigma-free campaign and to assist PWUDs. #
