CEBU CITY – Illegal drugs worth more than P1 billion were seized in Region 7 last year, the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) reported.
The PRO-7 said that 7,557 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted where 231,025.63 grams of shabu with a standard drug price of P1,570,974,284 were recovered and 8,772 suspected drug pushers were arrested.
Also confiscated were P7,150,442 worth of marijuana plants and 1,055 ampules of Nubain valued at P121,325.
In the campaign against illegal gambling, 7,592 operations were conducted, resulting in the arrest of 12,624 individuals and confiscation of P1,361,385.75 bet money.
The intensified campaign against loose firearms led to the arrest of 1,013 individuals and confiscation of 4,127 assorted firearms.
The PRO-7 arrested 6,354 wanted persons and 905 of them were most wanted persons.
Police Brig. Gen. Roy Parena, officer-in-charge of PRO-7, said that because of the intensified anti-criminality campaign, the crime rate in the region dropped last year.
Parena said 3,662 crimes were recorded, 8.75 percent lower compared to 2023 with 4,013.
He said the PRO-7 logged a 99.24 percent clearance efficiency and 89.07 percent solution efficiency in 2024.
As we continue to fulfill our mandated tasks of preventing crime, maintaining peace and order, and ensuring public safety, the PRO-7 has made meaningful progress in Central Visayas through our effective anti-crime strategies. I commend everyone for their unwavering commitment and integrity in serving the Central Visayas community. Let’s continue this work together, said Parena.