THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized P8.96 billion worth of illegal drugs during its top 10 anti-illegal drug operations in 2021 that involved nine buy-bust operations and the implementation of a search warrant, the agency said Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022.
The 10 operations resulted in the arrests of 23 individuals, 13 of them Chinese nationals and four of them personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PDEA’s biggest haul came on Sept. 7, 2021 when it seized 502.16 kilograms (kg) of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, worth P3.41 billion from four Chinese nationals in Candelaria, Zambales, it said in a statement.
Joint elements of the PDEA, PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica) conducted buy-bust operations and the implementation of a search warrant in the top eight cases that all led to the discovery of shabu concealed in packaging labeled as “Chinese tea.”
Following are the high-payoff PDEA operations and their haul:
1. P3.41 billion (502.16 kg of shabu): Sept. 7, 2021 in Candelaria, Zambales, 4 Chinese nationals arrested
2. P1.62 billion (239.55 kg of shabu): Oct. 16, 2021 in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, 2 persons arrested
3. P1.23 billion (181 kg of shabu): Sept. 9, 2021 in Bacoor, Cavite, two persons arrested
4. P863.60 million (127 kg of shabu): Aug. 1, 2021 in Novaliches, Quezon City, 3 Chinese nationals nabbed
5. P794.59 million (116.85 kg of shabu): June 1, 3021 in Imus City, Cavite, 1Chinese national nabbed
6. P509.23 million (74.8 kg of shabu): Aug. 1, 2021 in Balagtas, Bulacan, 1 Chinese national nabbed
7. P258.14 million (37.9 kg of shabu): Oct. 18, 2021 in Angeles, City Pampanga, 4 Chinese nationals nabbed
8. P255.21 million (37.53 kg of shabu): June 21, 2021 in Malate, Manila
9. P16.8 million (9,936 pieces of MDMA or ecstasy tablets): Nov. 5, 2021 in Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City, 1 person arrested
10. P2.64 million (388.85 grams of shabu): Jan. 15, 2021 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, 5 arrested
The eighth operation involved the implementation of two search warrants that led to the seizure of P255.21 million worth of shabu. The PDEA did not indicate if any arrest was made in this operation.
For the seizure of the ecstasy tablets in the ninth operation, Bureau of Customs personnel joined in the buy-bust.
Though yielding the least in terms of value of illegal drugs hauled at just P2.64 million, the last operation was perhaps the one that brought the PDEA its biggest surprise.
The Subic buy-bust led to “the arrest of four PNP personnel and a cohort, the dismantling of a kitchen-type clandestine shabu laboratory, and the confiscation of 388.85 grams of shabu worth P2.64 million, controlled precursors and essential chemicals and various laboratory equipment,” the PDEA said.
The agency said these operations involved high-value targets.
Last month, the PDEA reported seizing 77.5 kg of shabu worth some P534.75 million in a buy-bust operation at a condominium complex in Mandaluyong City. But this large haul was not included in PDEA’s top 10 list.
In the Dec. 27 operation, two Makati City residents were arrested after shabu was found also camouflaged in packaging labeled as Chinese tea.
PDEA operations are conducted with the help of tips from members of the public, who are rewarded for their assistance.