The Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) has seized a total of P1,893,386.05-worth of illegal drugs over the past six months from January this year to date, according to its bi-annual report sent to the police regional office in San Fernando City, La Union.
Data showed that at least 315 grams of shabu and five grams of marijuana were confiscated mostly from individual top drug personalities through buy-bust operations, checkpoints, raids and search warrants.
Some 170 suspected drug traffickers and users were arrested in different places in the province during the same period, it added.
INPPO officials said their relentless police operations throughout the province are in response to Governor Imee Marcos administration’s aggressive campaign against illegal drugs.
Acting police provincial director Senior Supt. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the local police force would continue their efforts to significantly decrease drug-related activities in Ilocos Norte, noting that most crimes were associated with the use of illegal drugs.
“Of almost all of the crimes that have been committed, the denominator was (the use) of drugs. Will you commit theft if you’re not under the influence of drugs?” he said.
PD Nartatez also added that the peace and order situation in Ilocos Norte has improved, underlining the increase of arrests of drug personalities.
He said that the occurrence of crimes, including physical injuries, theft, robbery, rape and carnappings, decreased to an average of five recorded cases from 15 in a week.
“We have increased our crime solution efficiency. ‘Pagka may nangyari, sinisigurado ko na maimbestigahang mabuti, ma-identify at mapilahan ng kaso,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Governor Marcos has earlier expressed full support to President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s anti-criminality drive in the country through the provincial government’s cooperation with the joint police and military forces.(Jennifer T. Pambid, PGIN-CMO)
