Agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and workers load confiscated illegal drugs into an incinerator during the destruction of illegal drugs in Trece Martires, Cavite on March 16, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Philippine National Police on Sunday announced that its anti-narcotics crackdown seized more than P20 billion worth of illegal drugs this year.

In a statement, Police General Francisco Marbil, PNP chief, said the anti-drugs campaign of the Marcos government netted a total of P20.7 billion worth of illegal drugs from January 1 to December 15, 2024. 

The number is a 101-percent increase compared to the 2023 drug war figures, he said.

PDEA: P49.82-B worth of illegal drugs seized under Marcos admin's anti-drug campaign

Marbil said 46,821 anti-drug operations were conducted by various police units nationwide, which led to the arrest of 57,129 individuals. 

He noted that the administration's focus on high-value individuals "while ensuring the protection of human rights and due process resulted in the confiscation of over 8 metric tons of illegal drugs, nearly 2 metric tons more compared to 2023."

The seized illegal drugs included shabu, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, and kush, the police chief said.

Marbil also reported that PNP Calabarzon recorded the highest drug haul with P9.9 billion worth of seized drugs, followed by the PNP Drug Enforcement Group with P2.4 billion.

"Our commitment to a calibrated anti-drug campaign, which puts a premium on human rights, has proven that we can dismantle drug syndicates without unnecessary loss of life," Marbil said.

The PNP and the President have branded their anti-illegal drugs approach as "bloodless." 

Marcos Jr.: 'Extermination' never part of drug war strategy

The police official said in the statement that its "success reflects its renewed commitment to eradicating illegal drugs while adhering to legal and ethical standards, proving that decisive action can go hand-in-hand with respect for human rights."

But according to the University of the Philippines-based Dahas PH, which monitors drug killings in the country, drug-related killings continue under the Marcos administration, with state agents still "prominently involved" in the deaths.

Drug-related deaths under the Marcos administration reached more than 850 as of December 2024, Dahas PH said.

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