Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jan 2005
Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/affiliate.php3?locid=2
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942
Author: Ernie N. Olson Jr.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

P303M DRUGS SEIZED, DESTROYED IN 2004: DRUG UNIT

OVER P303-million worth of marijuana and other assorted drugs were either 
confiscated or destroyed by personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement 
Agency (PDEA) regional office in 108 operations conducted last year.

Supt. Danilo Flordeliza, PDEA regional director for the Cordillera, said 
the P303,090,160 worth of seized and/or destroyed drugs in 2004 included 
approximately 1,449,346 fully-grown marijuana or cannabis sativa hemp 
plants, 49 bricks of dried MJ, 38,902.1 grams of the same dried illegal 
plant and 1,985.3 grams of concentrated marijuana resin or hashish. A total 
amount of 265.82 grams of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride was also 
confiscated during the same period.

"For the whole year covered, a total of 108 operations were conducted. 94 
of these were drug buy-bust operations, six were warranted searches, one 
was a warranted arrest, 13 were checkpoint operations and 17 were 
eradication operations conducted in various marijuana plantations," he said.

On drug abuse prevention and community information, their regional office 
also reportedly conducted 40 lectures or symposia to some 3,952 
participants composed of personnel of the Police Regional Office in the 
Cordillera, barangay officials, as well as students and teachers of various 
schools, colleges and universities within their area of responsibility.

They were also said to have assisted 13 former drug dependents in their bid 
to avail of rehabilitation.

"The different law enforcement agencies in the region became more vigilant 
in their campaign against illegal drugs. This is attributed to the active 
support of people within the community, prompting drug pushers to be more 
careful in dealing with prospective buyers. Others decided to lay low, 
thinking they will be targeted in our operations. With this, personnel of 
our office have strengthened our intelligence build-up and monitoring 
activities of suspected drug pushers, especially those that were listed in 
drug watch-lists and targeted for neutralization," Flordeliza said.

"Our office has also closely coordinated with the different schools for the 
monitoring of students suspected to be involved in illegal drug pushing and 
use," he added.

Flordeliza said of the 108 cases filed in court against arrested drug 
offenders last year, 11 were dismissed and one suspect acquitted. 
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