Cops nab over 100 drug suspects in Q1

Over a hundred persons were apprehended and almost P2 million worth of illegal drugs seized in anti-drug operations in Lapu-Lapu City within the first quarter of 2015.

Chief Superintendent Armando Radoc, officer-incharge of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, attributed the numbers to their “intensified efforts” in the fight against the use and sale of prohibited drugs.

He said they have stepped up their campaign against the social menace upon the instructions of Police Regional Office-7 Director Prudencio Tom Bañas.

Radoc shared that from January to March this year, the City Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group conducted 69 operations that resulted to the arrests of 111 drug suspects and users, as well as the confiscation of 160.9 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated worth.

Based on the valuation of the Dangerous Drugs Board, the seized drugs amounted to P1.89 million.

Specifically, the CAIDSOTG conducted 26 operations in January, 17 in February and 26 in March.

The operations in January, Radoc said, yielded the biggest confiscation at 90.4 grams valued at P1.06 million.

To maintain their momentum, Radoc said he will give instructions to the five police stations in the city to conduct at least three operations every week.

He will give the directives next week, after the celebration of the Kadaugan sa Mactan. For now, Radoc said, they are focusing on ensuring peace and order in the city for the 10-day revelry.

"But operations against illegal drugs will still continue," he assured.

MARCHING ORDER

Last month, Mayor Paz Radaza gave Radoc a marching order to confiscate at least P11 million worth of prohibited drugs for the whole year.

Radoc has been officer-incharge of the city police department since early 2014.

The police official also explained that more drugs confiscations do not automatically mean that illegal drugs have become "more rampant.”

"The problem has existed even before," he said. "We are intensifying our efforts only this time with the order from our regional director and our mayor."

He said the city police continue to work hand-in-hand with the city and barangays to stop the illegal drug market by intensifying surveillance activities at the barangay level.