Authorities still determining source of illegal drugs in recent drug ops

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Wilkins Villanueva on Monday said the source of the over 800 kilograms of suspected shabu seized by authorities since January has not yet been determined by authorities. 

At a press briefing, Villanueva said authorities would still conduct profiling to determine the source of those illegal drugs. 

"As far as the source of drugs, we still have to conduct the profiling and we'll coordinate with the foreign counterpart... So it's really important makakuha kami talaga ng profile noong dangerous drugs para makapag-order ang court for us to conduct profiling," Villanueva said. 

The PDEA, the Philippine National Police and the Dangerous Drugs Board presented to the media a portion of the 890 kilograms of suspected shabu seized during 25 anti-illegal drugs operations from January 1 to June 4. 

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said 93% of the confiscated shabu was the result of a four-day operation in June, particularly the over P5 billion worth of shabu

Added to that was the P244.8 million of shabu seized in Parañaque City last Saturday, according to Gamboa.

The latest drug raids resulted in the confiscation of more than P6 billion worth of illegal drugs which Gamboa considers as "a milestone that the PNP is proud to have achieved in the midst of challenging times."

"I am proud to note that the police regional offices and national operational support units managed to sustain anti-illegal drugs and anti-criminality operations without let-up during the entire ECQ period and vigorously pushed onwards thru the opening days of the MGCQ/GCQ even as these units continue to follow strict public safety standards as per IATF rules and regulations," Gamboa said. 

During the drug raid in Bulacan, three drug suspects, including a Chinese national, were arrested by authorities. 

Meanwhile, the two suspects in the operation in Parañaque City were killed. One of the suspects there was believed to be a relative of the Chinese national arrested in the Bulacan raid. —KG, GMA News