LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Aug. 19 (PNA) — Of the more than 1,300 barangays of Pangasinan, at least 322 are considered by the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPPO) as drug-affected.
This was bared by Superintendent Benjamin Ariola, chief of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) in a briefing here Wednesday during the Anti-Illegal Drugs Accomplishments, Evaluation and Assessment Meeting presided over by Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and Police Provincial Director Officer-in-charge Rolly Saltat.
Of the 322 drug-affected barangays, four are classified under Category 1, 230 under Category 2 and 88 under Category 3.
So far, only the municipality of Sto. Tomas, hometown of Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Secretary Antonio Villar Jr., was declared and certified as drug-free municipality.
Ariola reported that a total of 653 drug pushers/users were arrested in 504 operations conducted by the police from January to August 17, 2015.
In these operations, 1,038.27 grams of shabu and 838.59 grams of marijuana were seized valued at Php6.7 million as well as Php41,929.50 cash.
These operations were conducted through apprehension/police response, 56; buy bust, 323; checkpoint, 14; Oplan Sita, 46; Warrant of Arrest, 13; and Search Warrant, 57.
Eight top drug personalities were neutralized and two police officers and one councilman were arrested for their involvement in illegal drugs.
In his report, Ariola confirmed that there is no drug cultivation, manufacturing and smuggling in Pangasinan.
However, the source of “shabu” is reportedly the National Capital Region (NCR), Cavite and Pampanga, entering through four entry points namely Rosales, Mangatarem, Bayambang and Infanta.
Those entering Rosales go to Urdaneta and distributed to Villasis, Asingan, Binalonan and Pozorrubio.
Those entering Bayambang go to Bayambang, San Carlos, Dagupan and Calasiao while those entering Infanta go to Alaminos City and Bani.
During the evaluation, only chiefs of police where their towns and cities scored the highest drug busts were allowed to report their accomplishments.
At the same time, Ariola said drug syndicates in Pangasinan are now using more cunning and sophisticated schemes to hide their illegal drug transactions.
They are now in fact getting their payment through either Money Gram, bank-to-bank through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and are now sending the stuff on consignment basis.
Ariola reported that the drug pushers are now continuously innovating their schemes of drug distribution in order to mislead the police and avoid arrest.
They are now concealing the illegal drugs in stuff toys, use minors as well as women with children in their couriers.
Ariola said some even use selling bread or pandesal as cover, conceal the stuff in candy wrappers and thrown crowns of bottles to prevent detection by the police or their intelligence agents. (PNA)