Pubdate: Mon, 29 Aug 2005
Source: People's Journal (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 People's Journal
Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp
Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

PDEA EYES DRUG LABS, 'GRASS' PLANTATIONS

CAMP Vicente Lim -- The regional office of the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) based here said it is now verifying reports
of clandestine illegal drug laboratories and marijuana plantations in
the provinces of Laguna and Quezon.

In the "Drug Situation Update" prepared by his office, Supt. Abe
Lemos, PDEA regional chief, said "reports of the existence of
marijuana plantations in the provinces of Quezon and Laguna...are (now)
subject for confirmation."

For his part, deputy regional chief, C/Insp. Raul Bargamento, told
People's Tonight they are also validating information that 'state of
the art' laboratories capable of daily producing an average of 5 kilos
of methampethamine hydrochloride (shabu), have also been installed by
drug syndicates in locations that he refused to identify for the time
being.

A few years back, authorities dismantled a shabu factory discovered in
Lipa City, Batangas, capable of turning out an average of one ton
(1,000 kilos) of shabu.

The PDEA study said shabu and marijuana are still the preferred choice
by the majority of drug users although 'ecstasy' is now the preferred
substance "among the affluent members of society."

Lemos said drug syndicates use all modes of land and sea
transportation to bring in illegal drugs to the region while the
Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) has been identified as the main
source of marijuana.

The negative economic outlook in Calabarzon, dramatized by the closure
of factories and companies, Lemos added, "encouraged" displaced
workers to engage in the pushing of illegal drugs, particularly shabu,
in order to provide for the needs of their families.

He also revealed that at least 23 percent (939 barangays) of the total
4,010 barangays comprising the five provinces of Region 4-A (Cavite,
Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) are now being watched. On the
other hand, majority of the threatened barangays (48.45 percent) are
deemed "seriously affected" by the activities of drug syndicates.

By PDEA's reckoning, the town of San Pedro in the first district of
Laguna is among the most seriously affected places in the region that
earned for it the notorious title as Laguna's "shabu capital."

Combined operations conducted by PDEA and the office of regional
police director Jesus Ame Verzosa since the start of the year have
resulted in the confiscation of more than P5 million worth of shabu
and marijuana, the apprehension of 1,635 drug personalities and the
dismantling of at least 8 regional drug syndicates.
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