ILOILO CITY: The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) marked the beginning of the new year with a significant crackdown on illegal drugs as it confiscated P52 million worth of crystal meth (shabu) for the month of January.

PRO-6 reported that a combined 7.6 million grams of shabu, valued at P51,654,505, were seized in the first month of the year.

The office said it executed 166 anti-illegal drug operations in the same period, leading to the apprehension of 230 individuals involved in various drug activities.

"Through our unity — the police force, the community, and other agencies — the day will come when Western Visayas will be free from drugs for the prosperous future of the generations to come," PRO-6 chief BGen. Sidney Villaflor said in a statement.

Between January 8 and 14, PRO-6 conducted a weeklong simultaneous anti-criminality operation known as "Birada Semana."

In the seven-day campaign, law enforcement agencies carried out 69 anti-illegal drugs operations resulting in the apprehension of 89 individuals and the seizure of 3,232 grams of shabu valued at P22 million.

In a more recent operation on January 31, authorities detained two high-value individuals engaged in the illegal drug trade at Barangay Balabag, Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

Confiscated from the cohabiting partners were 730 grams of shabu, valued at P4.9 million.