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.
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