CEBU CITY – The aggressive campaign against illegal drugs has led to the dismantling of eight drug dens in various areas in Region 7 in the first two months of the year, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA-7) reported.

Leia Alcantara, spokesperson of PDEA-7, said that from January to February, PDEA-7 agents and personnel of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas dismantled five drug dens in Cebu City, one in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, and two in San Francisco town, Camotes Island, Cebu.
Alcantara said dismantling of a drug den is considered a high impact operation as drug dens are seen as breeding ground of crime.
Alcantara admitted that the PDEA-7 continues to uncover drug dens even in places that have been declared as drug-cleared areas.
“It is part of reality. It is part of the process of drug-clearing operations. I think there is this misconception that we will no longer conduct anti-illegal drug operations in drug-cleared areas. That is a misconception because we cannot control the entry of illegal drugs,” said Alcantara.
Drug operations held in areas that have earned drug-cleared status is an indication that their barangay officials, especially the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council, are functioning because they continue to report information on illegal drug activities in their areas.
“We can say that it is alarming but at the same time, it's proof that the mechanism is working, especially now that the local government units already know what to do, their rules and functions when it comes to the anti-illegal drug campaign,” added Alcantara.
Most of the drug dens that were dismantled were houses of arrested drug suspects.
There are several indications that a dwelling is being used as a drug den, Alcantara said.
“One of the indications is the foot traffic. You can see people coming in and out anytime of the day and then these people are new faces in the neighborhood. They are acting suspiciously. Plus, another indication is you can see tinfoil in the surroundings of the house,” said Alcantara.