P9.5M worth of illegal drugs seized in Soccsksargen since July 1

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Authorities had seized P9.5 million worth of narcotics and marijuana plants in Soccsksargen (Region 12) from July 1 to August 15 this year, officials said Wednesday.

 

Senior members of the inter-agency Regional Peace and Order Council were elated with the feat, something never collectively achieved before by law enforcement agencies in the region.

 

Superintendent Romeo Galgo, spokesman of the Police Regional Office 12 in General Santos City, said credit also has to go to units of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for supporting their crackdown on local drug syndicates.

 

“We are also thankful to local government units in Region 12 for helping us out,” Galgo said.

 

Region 12 covers the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Tacurong, Kidapawan, General Santos and Koronadal.

 

The methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) confiscated by the central Mindanao police from July 1 to August 15 would be used as evidence in court proceedings, according to Galgo.

 

Reports obtained from the provincial police directors in Region 12 indicated that 22,000 drug dependents and domestic peddlers also surrendered in the past six weeks and pledged to reform before their barangay leaders and municipal officials.

 

Combined teams of policemen, soldiers, PDEA agents and local officials had also neutralized 50 wanted drug traffickers, killed in one encounter after another in the past six weeks.

 

Meanwhile, more than a thousand marijuana shrubs had been uprooted by composite anti-narcotics groups in a series of operations in Region 12 during the period.

 

Galgo said they are grateful to vigilant villagers who helped locate the marijuana farms lawmen destroyed in recent operations.

 

The uprooted marijuana plants were set on fire in the presence of local executives and barangay folks.