PDEA to intensify crackdown vs ‘big fishes’ in illegal drugs trade

Following the billion illegal drug haul in Tanza, Cavite, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) vowed to further intensify its crackdown or high-impact operations (HIOs) against high-value targeted (HVT) drug personalities in the country.

PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino said that the agency has mainly targeted groups known to play key roles in the proliferation of illegal drugs.

“A person is said to be a high-value targeted drug personality if he/she is involved in illegal drug activities and falls under the following list and classification: priority targets; priority drug groups; government officials, either elected, government employee or law enforcers; foreign nationals; members of African Drug Syndicates (ADS); target-listed personalities; wanted listed personalities; celebrities and other well-known personalities; and members of armed groups,’’ Aquino said.

Aquino also denounced claims that PDEA is only running after the “small fry” in its drug war.

He acknowledged that public support is very vital in the agency’s all-out war against illegal drugs saying that tips on the presence of drug dens, drug laboratories, and drug personalities are most welcome.

He assured the identities of the informants will be treated with outmost confidentiality as PDEA, in tandem with other government agencies, are up to the task of thwarting HVT drug personalities in the country.

In 2018, a total of 1,612 drug personalities classified as high-value targets were arrested, including 53 foreign nationals, 57 elected officials, 15 uniformed personnel, 43 government employees, 200 drug group leaders/members, 14 armed drug group members, 182 drug den maintainers, 10 wanted-listed, 146 target-listed, other HVTs numbering to 407, and 485 drug personalities arrested in HIOs.