Illegal drugs worth P20.1-M seized in Calabarzon in February

Illegal drugs worth P20.1-M seized in Calabarzon in February. FILE/STOCK

LUCENA CITY — Police anti-narcotics operatives in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon) seized more than P20.1 million worth of illegal drugs during their month-long operation in February.

The Police Regional Office 4A (PRO-4A) public information office (PIO) said in a report on Saturday, March 1, that drug enforcers arrested 838 suspected “high-value individuals” (HVI) and street pushers during their 616 anti-illegal drug operations across the region last month.

The HVI designation applies to financiers, traffickers, manufacturers, and importers of illegal drugs, as well as leaders or members of drug syndicates. The report did not specify the number of HVIs busted last month.

The drug enforcers seized 2,920.17 grams of shabu (crystal meth) and 2,509.11 grams of marijuana with a total value of P20,158,249, according to the PIO report.

The seized illegal drugs in February were lower than the confiscated shabu and marijuana last January, which was worth P36.9 million.

The PIO also reported the arrest of 1,526 alleged illegal gamblers – most of them “bookies” or persons engaged in illegal operation of the government’s Small Town Lottery, card game locally known as “tong-its” and “cara y cruz” (coin toss).

The cops confiscated P293,909 in bet money.

The law enforcers also arrested at least 95 people for carrying illegal guns and confiscated 165 assorted firearms.

The regional police also reported the arrest of 987 wanted felons across the region last month.