PDEA: Close to 28,000 barangays now declared as 'drug-cleared'
By Chito Chavez

A total of 27,748 barangays in the country are now classified as ‘drug-cleared’ with 7,785 remaining ‘drug-affected barangays’ from July 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2023, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
A drug-free status is given to barangays previously considered as drug-affected due to the presence of users, traffickers as well as the presence of drug dens.
Based on the PDEA data, around P23.62 billion worth of illegal drugs, laboratory equipment and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECS) were seized by government anti-narcotics authorities over the said period.
The report noted that 3,173.57 (kilograms) kgs. of shabu, 25.78 kgs. of cocaine, 2,739.93 kgs. of marijuana and 43,940 pieces of ecstasy were confiscated during the various anti-drug operations.
Authorities conducted 44,338 anti-drug operations with 61,269 arrests made which included 4,174 drug personalities identified as ‘high-value targets (HVTs).’
The agency added that one clandestine laboratory and 683 drug dens were dismatled in the said anti-drug operations.