By Noel Punzalan/PNA
COTABATO CITY — Police operatives from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have confiscated PHP28.3-million worth of illegal drugs from January to November this year.
In a statement released Thursday, Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, director of Police Regional Office (PRO) – ARMM, said the total drug haul was the result of 400 police anti-drug operations that also led to the arrest of 526 drug suspects.
“Of the total number of drug suspects arrested, 32 died after resisting arrest. A total of 834 drug-related cases were also filed by the ARMM police in court,” he said.
Mijares said the total confiscated drugs comprised 4,135 grams of shabu and 494 grams of marijuana.
He further said that the campaign against illegal gambling led to the apprehension of 243 personalities from 107 police operations.
The series of operations also resulted in the confiscation of PHP94,165 worth of gambling bet money, 30 fighting cocks, and 20 slot machines, among others.
Amid such achievements, Mijares sought the help of the public in their continuing campaign against prohibited drugs and gambling.
“Illegal drugs and gambling are both menaces to society. We need public support to neutralize these two as to other forms of criminality,” he said.
The PRO-ARMM covers the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, and the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan.
