Shabu seized in first quarter highest ever: PDEA

April 5, 2019

Seizure of methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known as shabu, by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the first quarter posted the highest volume of illegal drugs seized in the country’s drug law enforcement history.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in a statement Friday the agency seized a total of 776.06 kilos of shabu worth P5.27 billion, surpassing the combined seizure of 672.42 kilos of shabu worth P4.58 billion from the first quarters of 2009 to 2018 by 103.64 kilos worth P704,752,000.

“This is the highest recorded shabu seizure for the first three months of the year in PDEA history. It also more than double compared to the second highest first quarter seizure which was recorded in 2015 with 314.47 kilos worth P2.14 billion,” Aquino said.

Aquino said this is the result of a series of bulk volume of seizures in Cavite, Muntinlupa and Manila where a total of 716 kilos worth billions of pesos were done.

Aquino said the 2,034 anti-drug operations conducted and 2,818 drug personalities arrested by PDEA for the period are also the highest since 2009.

“This is an increase of 76.10 percent and 72.35 percent, respectively, compared to the same period in 2018,” Aquino said.

“These volume of seizures is an indication that we are conducting high-impact operation and hitting high-value targets,” the PDEA chief said, adding that the agency is also focused in implementing anti-drug advocacies such as Balay Silangan, for surrendered drug personalities, and Sagip Batang Solvent for children hooked on illegal drugs. DMS