On the first quarter of the year, authorities were able to detain 257 drug personalities and recovered PHP12 million in shabu, according to an anti-narcotics officer here on Tuesday.
In a statement, Aileen Lovitos, the Director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-12), said the apprehended drug personalities included 31 high-value targets in 227 anti-illegal drug operations across the region during the period.
Lovitos added that a total of PHP12.1 million worth of shabu and marijuana hemp have been confiscated.
She noted that out of the total, 1,159.3 grams of shabu, 577.4 grams of dried marijuana leaves, and 21,000 fully grown marijuana hills were uprooted.
Currently, only 114 of the region's 1,095 communities have remained "drug-affected."
The provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, as well as the cities of Gen. Santos, Kidapawan, Tacurong, and Koronadal, make up Soccsksargen.
Meanwhile, anti-narcotics officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Mindanao (BARMM) have issued a warning regarding individuals impersonating PDEA drug enforcement agents.
PDEA-BARMM Director Christian O. Frivaldo stated that they received reports of multiple persons posing as PDEA agents and using the agency's name, uniform, and insignia in unlawful actions.
Unauthorized use of PDEA uniforms or insignia, he claimed, is punishable under the amended penal code.
