By CESAR JOLITO III

The Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOCPPO) reported the confiscation of more than P45 million worth of illegal drugs following the successful completion of its intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign in 2025.

NOCPPO spokesperson Police Captain Judesses Catalogo said police units across the province carried out a total of 1,151 anti-drug operations throughout the year.

These operations resulted in the seizure of 6,624.632 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P45,047,496.92, and the arrest of 1,447 individuals involved in illegal drug activities.

Authorities also recovered 2,659.238 grams of suspected marijuana, valued at P319,108.56, bringing the total value of illegal drugs seized in 2025 to P45,366,605.

Catalogo said the figures reflect the sustained efforts of law enforcement to suppress the illegal drug trade in Negros Occidental, noting that operations were conducted in coordination with local police stations and partner agencies.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reiterated its commitment to dismantling drug syndicates operating in the region by focusing not only on street-level dealers but also on their supply networks and higher-level connections.

PRO-NIR Director Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay earlier disclosed in August 2025 that several drug groups operating in Negros Occidental were linked to syndicates from other regions.

Ibay added that most illegal drugs entering the province were transported through seaports, prompting tighter monitoring of coastal entry points./CJ, WDJ