ILOILO — A month-long crackdown by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) dealt a major blow to the province’s illegal drug trade, with authorities seizing more than P22.4 million worth of shabu and marijuana and arresting 53 suspects, including 19 high-value individuals (HVIs), in April alone.
From April 1 to 30, police operations under IPPO director Police Colonel Bayani Razalan resulted in the confiscation of 3,294.31 grams of shabu and 40 grams of marijuana with a combined standard drug price of P22,407,310.79.
A total of 35 anti-drug operations were carried out, leading to the arrest of 34 street-level individuals (SLIs) alongside the HVIs, underscoring the sustained push to dismantle both high-level and grassroots drug networks in the province.
“Ang aton madinalag-on nga mga operasyon sa bulan sang Abril nagapakita sang determinasyon sang inyo Ilonggo cops para tapna-on ang mga krimen kag iligal nga mga hilikuton sa probinsya. Paagi sa aton paghugpong, mas mapabakod pa naton ang aton kampanya para padayon angakalinong kag pag-uswag sang aton pinalangga nga Iloilo,” Razalan said.
Beyond illegal drugs, the IPPO intensified its overall law enforcement campaign, conducting 104 warrant operations that led to the arrest of 23 Most Wanted Persons — including six at the regional level, seven at the provincial level, and 10 at the municipal level — along with 82 other wanted individuals.
The anti-illegal gambling drive also gained traction, with 18 operations resulting in the arrest of 49 individuals, confiscation of P14,927 in bet money, and the filing of 18 cases.
Efforts to curb gun-related violence saw 13 operations leading to the arrest of 12 individuals and the seizure of 11 firearms. Authorities also reported 155 firearms voluntarily surrendered and 17 deposited for safekeeping, bringing the total number of accounted firearms to 183, with 12 cases filed.
In the province’s coastal areas, 14 anti-illegal fishing operations led to the apprehension of 56 individuals and 11 fishing boats, with authorities confiscating fishing paraphernalia worth P3.99 million and fish valued at P47,750.
Meanwhile, the crackdown on environmental violations continued, with 31 anti-illegal quarrying operations resulting in the arrest of 30 individuals and the impoundment of 30 vehicles, while 27 anti-illegal logging operations led to the seizure of 10,117 board feet of lumber worth ₱95,298 and the arrest of three individuals./PN
