The report of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that it had netted around 10 kilos of illegal drugs in Allen, Northern Samar, is a testament to the intensified anti-narcotics campaign of the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Malacañang said.
Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil extended the compliments, citing PDEA's report that it forwarded to Malacañang last week.
In a statement, Garafil, citing the said report, said an interdiction operation in Barangay Jubasan last January 11 resulted in the arrest of Mangayao Minatora and the seizure of around 10 kilos of shabu hidden in Chinese tea packaging.
Based on the street value set by the Dangerous Drugs Board, a kilogram of shabu is now worth around P6.9 million.
PDEA Regional Office-Eastern Visayas led the operation along with the Allen Municipal Police Station-Highway Patrol Group, Philippine Coast Guard, K9 Field Unit, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Northern Samar-Provincial Intelligence Unit and Northern Samar Police Provincial Office-Drug Enforcement Unit.
Aside from the drug haul, authorities also confiscated a sedan, two cellular phones, and a wallet containing three ID cards and cash amounting to P1,670.
The PDEA said the suspect is now detained by the agency's Regional Office-Eastern Visayas while the pieces of evidence are under the custody of its regional office forensic laboratory. Its operating units are looking into other high-value personalities behind the seized illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, the PDEA also reported the arrest of a Korean national and a cohort following a controlled delivery operation in Makati City last February 6.
Among those arrested were Korean Choi Soi and her accomplice Angeline Claire.
The PDEA RO NCR-Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, Southern District Office, and Makati City Substation 6 Poblacion launched the operation at SM Jazz residence on Nicanor Street in Makati City.
In its 2022 accomplishment report presented to Malacañang, PDEA said its intensified anti-drug operations have resulted in the seizure of some P30.9 billion worth of illegal drugs last year.
The agency said 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).
It added that 53,002 drug personalities were arrested through more than 37,000 operations launched by the agency and other law enforcement units.
PDEA is the lead agency in the country's campaign against illegal drugs.