By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) exceeded its 2019 drug haul with the seizure of P27.4 million worth of illegal drugs in 2020.
Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, NOCPPO’s Deputy Public Information Officer, said P27,401,764.76 worth of illegal drugs was seized from January to December 2020, compared to the P16,673,536.456 worth of drugs confiscated in 2019.
Last year, 4,029.465 grams of shabu worth P27,400,701.20 was seized while 8.8630 grams of marijuana worth P1,063.56 was confiscated, Donasco said.
Since March, the provincial police force conducted 656 anti-illegal drug operations despite the health crisis brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
A total of 867 persons were arrested and 1,677 drug cases were filed in court.
Police officers continue their intensified operations against drug peddlers amid the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) confiscated P42,500,858 worth of illegal drugs from January to December 2020.
It was higher despite the pandemic, compared to the drug haul in 2019 which was pegged at P41,552,776, based on the records from the BCPO.
Last year, the BCPO has seized 6,250.06 grams of shabu worth P42,500,408, and 3.464 grams of marijuana worth P450.
The BCPO also conducted 342 anti-illegal drug operations last year, which resulted in the arrest of 510 persons.
Of the arrested individuals, 39 were high value individuals, 386 were street level individuals, 78 were newly-identified, and 7 were minors. A total of 776 cases were filed.
Two persons were killed during police operations against illegal drugs.
The number of arrested persons in 2020 is lower than in 2019 with the apprehension of 961 individuals according to the data from the BCPO.
