Pubdate: Sun, 09 Jan 2005
Source: People's Journal (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 People's Journal
Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp
Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381
Author: Alfred Dalizon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

19,000 NABBED FOR DRUGS IN '04

NEARLY 19,000 were arrested last year for drugs as the Philippine National 
Police intensified its crackdown against traffickers and users, PNP 
Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force commander Deputy Director 
General Ricardo F. de Leon said yesterday.

"We have racked up several milestones in our fight against illegal drugs as 
reflected in the number of arrests and other successful anti-drug 
operations we conducted in 2004," said De Leon.

Of the total, he said 6,403 were arrested for drug pushing while the rest 
were nabbed for drug use.

De Leon said the arrests were the result of 10,217 drug busts; 4,753 raids 
and searches and 321 marijuana eradication operations conducted nationwide.

Among the 17 PNP regional offices, he said the National Capital Region 
Police Office posted the biggest number of operations at 8,098. Of the 
total, 6,867 were drug busts in addition to 21 raids that resulted in the 
arrest of 1,294 pushers and 6,606 users.

The other police regional offices recorded the following accomplishments: 
PRO1: 127 buy-busts; 199 searches; 11 marijuana eradication raids; and 734 
suspects arrested; PRO2: 87 buy-busts; 46 raids/searches; 1 marijuana 
plantation raid; 179 suspects arrested; PRO3: 397 buy-bust operations; 570 
raids/searches; 1,520 suspects arrested; PRO4: A-930 buy-bust operations; 
1,065 raids/searches; 3,792 suspects arrested; PRO4-B: 448 buy-bust 
operations; 335 raids/searches; 154 suspects arrested.
- ---