PNP anti-drugs group to focus on 'high value targets'

The newly formed Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (P-DEG) is validating information on high value targets as the government re-starts the campaign against illegal drugs.

The team that will be led by Police Senior Supt. Graciano "Buboy" Mijares will focus on drug distributors, drug traffickers and drug protectors. 

He said that when "Oplan Tokhang" was suspended, many drug pushers returned to their work in the illegal drug trade.

The P-DEG is presently coordinating with other agencies and their counterparts in other countries.

Meanwhile, the vetting process for the members of PDEG is still ongoing.

"'Yung pinakamisyon natin sa PNP Drug Enforcement Group, ang pinakamandate natin is to conduct operations on high value targets with high impact. 'Yung extent ng operation natin, from the international, national and the regional," Mijares said in a report on "24 Oras."

Initial reports said the new group will have less than 300 members and their qualifications will be reviewed by an oversight committee.

The anti-illegal drugs group will have a counter-intelligence component and tactically trained personnel. 

On Monday, PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa announced the resumption of its anti-illegal drugs operation with the creation of P-DEG and the activation of “Double Barrel Reloaded.”

He said 18 Regional Drug Enforcement Units (RDEU) and five (5) District Drug Enforcement Units (DDEU) in the NCR police districts shall be created while Drug Enforcement Teams (DET) will be organized in the provincial, city and municipal police offices and stations. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BAP, GMA News