The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Negros Oriental has seized a total of 1,040 grams of suspected shabu worth P7.5 million in different anti-illegal drug operations for the first quarter of this year.

PDEA-Negros Oriental provincial chief Agent Elmer Ebona told the Philippine News Agency yesterday that the biggest one-time haul of the suspected shabu seized was in February during an operation that yielded one kilogram of the prohibited substance and the arrest of a “high-value target.”

Ebona said during the period covered from January 1 to April 30, they conducted three high-impact operations and arrested 10 high-value targets in different parts of the province.

Supply of the suspected shabu is mostly from nearby Cebu province, although some are sourced from Mindanao and even as far as Metro Manila, he said.

The practice of sending illegal drugs via couriers is also still being practiced although it is not as frequent as it was in previous years, he added.

The PDEA agent said drug personalities in the province usually dispose of at least 15 grams of suspected shabu a day. Once the supply arrives, it is immediately divided into smaller volumes and distributed to the street-level pushers, he added. (PNA)