MANILA: More than 6,400 drug high-value targets (HVTs) across the country have been arrested since the start of the anti-narcotics crackdown in mid-2022 under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported on Wednesday. Based on PDEA's latest figures of the anti-drug campaign, a total of 6,413 HVTs were arrested from July 1, 2022 to May 31, 2024. Authorities also arrested 97,445 suspects in 71,591 operations and dismantled a total of 1,021 drug dens and one shabu laboratory over the same period. These operations resulted in the seizure of PHP44.69 billion worth of illegal drugs, which include 5,813.77 kg. of shabu, 74.6 kg. of cocaine, 96,550 pieces of ecstasy tablets, and 3,907.17 kg. of marijuana. Meanwhile, PDEA noted that 28,825 out of 42,000 barangays (villages) in the country have been declared "drug-cleared" while authorities are clearing 6,691 more. It said these barangays had reached a drug-cleared status after the issuance of a ce rtification by members of the oversight committee on the barangay drug-clearing program. Source: Philippines News Agency