CEBU CITY, Cebu – In a span of four months this year, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Visayas has confiscated a total of R30 million worth of illegal drugs.

PDEA-7 director Jigger Montallana said the agency in the region conducted 360 anti-drug operations throughout Central Visayas from July 1 to October, resulting in the confiscation of that much worth in illegal drugs.

“The total worth of illegal drug substances we have confiscated from various anti-drug operations within said four-month period was P28.61million,” Montallana said.

The PDEA official said marijuana was top on the list of illegal drugs the agency seized in the region. Said marijuana – about as much as 231,578 grams - came in such various forms as cigarette-like sticks, seedlings and plants.

Methamphetamine hydrochloride or more popularly called “shabu,” is next on the list, said Montallana, with as much as 3,338 grams seized during the same four-month period. Based on PDEA-7 records, 23 of the 360 anti-drug operations were joined in by the police forces.

Other illegal drugs confiscated as a result of PDEA 7-led raids comprised of cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia.

Montallana further said 443 personalities were arrested and 497 cases filed in the courts.

The PDEA-7 director, however, did not cite a breakdown of the illegal drugs seized per province in Central Visayas but he said that Cebu, being the regional center, was where the most number of anti-drug operations were conducted.