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PDEA: P14.49B worth of illegal drugs seized under Duterte admin


A total of P14.49 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized in the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign since President Rodrigo Duterte took office, according to the Philippines' top anti-drug agency.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Isidro Lapeña presented the figures during the government-initiated forum "RealNumbersPH,"  where government agencies bared what they call were the real numbers in the government's war against drugs.

He said the total seizure accounts for 12 percent of the total supply of illegal drugs in the country, a P120 billion industry in the Philippines.

As of April 20, Lapeña said the government's drug campaign has resulted in the surrender of 1.266 million drug users, which translated to 26.45 percent decrease in the estimated total drug market.

He added that the surrender of 88,940 suspected drug pushers has disrupted the distribution channel.

He said 2,692 drug suspects have been killed in the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs while 64,817 others were arrested since July.

Duterte has made the war on drugs the centerpiece of his administration. But local and international watchdogs have criticized the drug war, slamming its rising death toll and saying that it has been abused by authorities. —JST, GMA News

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