P45-M Shabu Seized in Cotabato, Maguindanao, Lanao Sur in 2018

Anti-narcotics operatives in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have declared victory in the fight against illegal drugs this year but officials have admitted that the coming year is even more challenging.

Juvenal Azurin, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – ARMM director, told a local TV news outfit on Thursday that more than PHP45-million worth of prohibited drugs were seized by PDEA agents and its partners in Cotabato City and the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur from January to November this year.

While the accomplishment was huge and made PDEA-ARMM one of the best agencies across the country, the operations had cost the lives of five PDEA agents in an ambush in Lanao del Sur this year.

“The successful operations across PDEA-ARMM areas of jurisdiction were all dedicated to five brave men and women of PDEA who offered their lives to protect the Filipino people,” he said.

Azurin, in a statement, said PDEA-ARMM had conducted 88 anti-drug law enforcement operations that resulted in the arrest of 118 drug personalities, mostly drug peddlers.

In 2017, PDEA had 277 law enforcement operations and 232 persons were arrested.

Azurin said the law enforcement operations this year led to a higher amount of prohibited stuff confiscated by anti-narcotic personnel.

This year, a total of 6.69 kg. of shabu with an estimated market value of PHP45.45 million were confiscated.

Among the high-value targets of PDEA were elected provincial officials, incumbent village chair and council members, including women.

So far, a total of 289 villages in Maguindanao, including Cotabato City and in Lanao del Sur have been declared by PDEA as “drug-cleared”.

Azurin said that during the same period, nine convictions were achieved by PDEA-ARMM. (PNA)