Pubdate: Thu, 04 Mar 2004
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Jowie F. Corpuz, Correspondent

US TAGS RP AS MAJOR DRUG HUB

WASHINGTON has la-beled the Philippines as a major source and 
trans-shipment point of illegal drugs.

According to the annual report conducted by the US Department of State 
which was released March 1, the Philippines has developed into a major 
producer of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as "shabu," based on the 
quantity of seizures last year.

"Domestic production of methamphetamine exceeds demand, with most of the 
precursor chemicals smuggled into the Philippines from surrounding 
countries, primarily from the People's Republic of China," the report said.

It noted that the wholesale price of methamphetamine ranges from P800,000 
to P1 million per kilogram ($14, 500 to $18,000). The same methamphetamine 
sells on the street for twice that amount.

The US report also cited the Philippines as a transshipment point for 
further export of methamphetamine of foreign manufacture to Japan, 
Australia, Korea, the United States, Guam and Saipan.

The US government further said that Philippines also produces, consumes and 
exports marijuana and that Philippine authorities continue to encounter 
difficulties stemming production.

"Marijuana is generally cultivated in areas inaccessible by vehicles and/or 
controlled by insurgent groups," it added.

Also, the US State Department said that corruption continues to hamper the 
intensified drive against illegal drugs.

"Corruption and inefficiency among government officials also complicate 
eradication efforts," it said.

Based on the information gathered by Washington, most of the marijuana 
produced in the Philippines is consumed locally while the rest is being 
smuggled out to Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Europe. The 
wholesale price of marijuana is estimated around P11,160 per kilogram 
($203). Street price varies according to the quality of the product.

Furthermore, the MDMA, otherwise known as Ecstasy, is fast becoming a 
recreational drug in the Philippines.

"Philippine government authorities report a surge in Ecstasy use among 
young, prosperous adults, particularly in bars and clubs. The street price 
for an Ecstasy/MDMA tablet is estimated to be P1,500 [$27]," the report said.

And while the US government lauded the administration for its relentless 
efforts to curb the problems on illegal drugs, Washington said the law 
enforcement agencies "are less efficient in developing and transmitting 
intelligence on outbound shipments."

"While the GRP has chemical controls laws, enforcement of them is uneven. 
This is due to a perceived unwillingness of prosecutors to pursue cases 
where only precursor chemicals and no drugs are seized and of judges to 
accept the seized chemicals as evidence," it said.

The US also said that several procedures of the Philippine law enforcement 
agencies apparently restrain the authorities to effectively carry out their 
mandate.

"Major evidentiary and procedural obstacles exist in the Philippines in 
building effective narcotics cases. Restrictions on the gathering of 
evidence hinder narcotics investigations and prosecutions. Philippine laws 
regarding electronic surveillance and bank secrecy regulations constrain 
prosecutors' ability to build narcotics cases," the US said.

Also, the report noted links between big-time drug traffickers and 
local-based terrorists such as the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Communist Party 
of the Philippines and its armed wing the New People's Army.

These groups were earlier listed in the Foreign Terrorist Organizations of 
the US government.

"Throughout 2003, Philippine authorities drew clear linkages between drug 
trafficking activities and terrorist organizations. The Abu Sayyaf Group 
(ASG), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization operating in the 
extreme southwest of the Philippines, collects money from drug smugglers by 
acting as protectors for foreign trafficking syndicates. The ASG also 
controls a thriving marijuana production site in Basilan," it said.

Citing intelligence report, the State Department said that the CPP/NPA 
receives money for providing safe haven and security for many of the 
marijuana growers in the northern Philippines and collects "revolutionary 
taxes" on the sale of drugs.

The 2003 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an 
annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance 
with the Foreign Assistance Act.  It describes the efforts of key countries 
to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2003.

Assistant Secretary Robert Charles of the Bureau of International Narcotics 
and Law Enforcement said that the annual report "really marks the narcotics 
control performance of all the countries that have received INL, State 
Department INL assistance in the last two fiscal years.

"It focuses special attention on the major drug producing and drug transit 
countries, and it also includes, by law, the major money laundering 
countries and major precursor chemical countries," he said in an interview 
posted at the website of the US Embassy in Manila.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom