Pubdate: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2003, The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 11 FOREIGN DRUG SYNDICATES AMONG SHABU SUPPLIERS TO 2 MILLION USERS Eleven transnational drug syndicates are doing business in the Philippines, supplying mostly shabu to more than two million users, according the government's main drug enforcement body. In a report submitted to President Macapa-gal-Arroyo released yesterday by Malaca-nang, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said that aside from trans-national syndicates, there are 215 local drug rings. The figures surfaced during intelligence workshops conducted by the PDEA on Aug. 30 and 31 last year. The proliferation of drug syndicates makes drugs the country's biggest law and order problem, the PDEA said. In fact, drug pushing is now one of the most common street crimes, it said. On Thursday, President Macapagal-Arroyo scolded top police officials for not doing enough to bring down the incidence of street crimes. Malacanang did not say if the report identified the syndicates or what steps the PDEA is taking to fight the drug menace. PDEA Director-General Anselmo Avenido Jr. cited statistics from the Dangerous Drugs Board estimating the number of regular drug users at 1.8 million and occasional users at 1.6 million. Avenido also said shabu (methampetha-mine hydrochloride) is the syndicates' main product. He said that last year, 3,489 barangays were considered to be drug-affected barangays. That's eight percent of the country's 42,000 barangays. Avenido said higher productivity, the ease in world travel, modern communications and globalization have prompted shabu-source countries to look for new markets. The Philippines is one of the main targets for this expansion in Asia, he said. The report also showed that shabu from China is smuggled into the country mainly through the shorelines of Northern and Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog, specifically Batangas, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon, and the Mindoro provinces. Other probable landing sites are Masbate, Palawan, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Davao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex