Weeklong PDEA ops net P7.50-B illegal drugs, 107 suspects

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

DRUG HAUL. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Customs, and Philippine Coast Guard intercept about 800 kilograms of marijuana worth PHP640 million at the Manila International Container Port in Tondo, Manila on March 7, 2026. PDEA said Monday (March 17) that PHP7.50 billion worth of illegal drugs were seized in operations from March 6 to 12. (Photo courtesy of PDEA)

MANILA – Government anti-drug operatives have seized PHP7.50 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested 107 suspects in operations from March 6 to 12.

The arrests and seizures resulted from 85 operations, including buy-busts, interdictions, controlled deliveries, and marijuana eradication.

“By removing PHP7.50 billion worth of illegal drugs from circulation, we have prevented immense harm to our communities,” Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isagani Nerez said in a statement Tuesday.

Seized drugs included 948,670.34 grams of suspected shabu; 853,895.21 grams of “kush”; 67,070 marijuana plants; 31,084.12 grams of dried marijuana leaves; 17,900 grams of marijuana stalks; 2,601.40 milliliters of marijuana oil; and 200 ecstasy tablets.

Among those arrested were 50 drug pushers and 29 drug den visitors, PDEA said. They will face charges under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

In a separate statement, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it arrested 327 individuals for various offenses in Metro Manila from March 8 to 15.

Of those arrested, 128 were listed as most wanted persons.

The NCRPO also reported a 20 percent drop in focus crimes, from 132 cases in the same period last year to 106 this year.

Focus crimes include murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, carjacking of motorcycles and motor vehicles, and theft.

Cases declined in rape (25 to 6), murder (7 to 4), and motor vehicle carjacking (3 to 0).

Motorcycle theft dropped from 9 to 4, burglary from 54 to 48, and physical injury from 18 to 17.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the weeklong operations were part of the PNP Focused Agenda under the Enhanced Managing Police Operations strategy, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to maintain peace and order and protect the public.