Monday, January 03, 2005
P22B worth of illegal substances, drug equipment seized
* A total of 52 foreign nationals also arrested in anti-drug operations, says PDEA
* China tops the list of arrested foreign nationals with 21
PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) Director General Anselmo Avenido Jr. said Sunday the Pdea, assisted by other law enforcement units, seized P22.092 billion worth of illegal drugs, precursors, essential chemicals and laboratory equipment in 2004.
Avenido said marijuana and its derivatives topped the list of seized illegal drugs followed by shabu.
Marijuana and its derivatives seized during the period were valued at P8.721 billion broken down into 1,930,110 plants worth 386 million; 431,471 seedlings worth P17,259 million; 5,215.24 grams of seeds worth P130,381,25; 332,689,915 kilograms of dried leaves valued at P8.317 billion; 200.18 grams of hashish worth P50,045; 3,149 sticks worth P25,192; 386 teabags worth P9,650; and 10 sticks worth P1,250.
During the same period, a total of 756.373 kilograms of shabu worth P1.513 billion were seized.
Avenido said the Pdea also seized during the year 103 Ecstasy tablet worth P123,600; 2,241 grams of cocaine valued at P12.106 million; 200 pieces of Nubain ampules worth P4,000; seven Diazepan tablets worth P271.25; 1,651 Mogadon tablets worth P610,870; 6,633,450 boxes of Valium worth P2.985 billion; and 9,000 grams of opium poppy worth P1.8 million.
Precursors and essential chemicals seized were valued at P8.854 billion, while laboratory equipments worth P4.5 million were seized.
Apart from the confiscated drug items, the Pdea chief also announced that they had arrested 52 foreign nationals involved in the illegal drug trade.
Avenido said Chinese topped the list with 21 arrested followed by Americans with seven.
Other foreign nationals arrested during the year were British with 3; Indonesia, 3; Japanese, 3; Korean, 3; French, 2; Malaysian, 2; and Taiwanese, 2.
Also arrested were one Australian, Canadian, Dutch, Egyptian, Iranian and Lebanese.
The foreign nationals were arrested for various drug offenses like manufacturing, importing, trafficking, selling, processing and using dangerous drugs. (Jonathan F. Fernandez)
(January 3, 2005 issue)
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