5.7K high-value targets nabbed under Marcos admin's drug drive

MANILA – Almost 5,700 drug high-value targets (HVTs) across the country have been arrested since the start of the crackdown on illegal drugs in mid-2022 by the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Tuesday.

Based on the latest numbers of the drug campaign data released by PDEA, a total of 5,691 HVTs were arrested from July 1, 2022 to Feb. 29, 2024.

Authorities also arrested 84,291 individuals involved in illegal drugs in 61,800 operations and dismantled a total of 901 drug dens and a shabu laboratory in the same period.

A total of P32.44 billion worth of illegal drugs were seized, which include 4,353.81 kg. of shabu, 50.51 kg. of cocaine, 54,016 pieces of ecstasy tablets, and 3,589.08 kg. of marijuana.

Meanwhile, PDEA said 28,330 out of 42,000 barangays (villages) in the country have been declared "drug-cleared" while authorities are still clearing 7,181 others.

These barangays have reached drug-cleared status after the issuance of a certification by members of the oversight committee on the barangay drug-clearing program, it added.