Pubdate: Fri, 14 Oct 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
Author: Alfred Dalizon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

SPECIAL REPORT: EMERGING TRENDS IN RP DRUG ABUSE (1)

THE Philippines is emerging as a ketamine source as drug syndicates
have turned to producing the suicide-inducing drug which they  export
abroad.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chair Anselmo Avenido, Jr. warned
that transnational drug groups have made the country their venue for
ketamine production. However, he said there are no reports of ketamine
abuse from various drug rehabilitation centers, particularly the
government-run Center for the Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drugs
Dependents or the former drug abuse rehabilitation center of the
defunct Philippine National Police Narcotics Group in Taguig, Metro
Manila.

According to Avenido, ketamine is not considered an illegal drug here,
thus drug syndicates have exploited this legal loophole by importing
ketamine hydrochloride from other countries and converting it to
ketamine powder in the Philippines. The substance is later shipped
abroad.

PDEA intelligence and investigation service director Senior Supt. Ager
P. Ontog said that for the past two years, agents of the PDEA, the PNP
and the Bureau of Food and Drugs have seized 32,300 vials of ketamine
hydrochloride, 38.83 kilograms of ketamine hydrochloride powder and
assorted equipment and implements used in the processing of ketamine.

The first seizure was made on Dec. 23, 2003 in Pasay City where 7,000
vials of ketamine hydrochloride and one kilogram of ketamine powder
were seized.

Investigation revealed that the ketamine products were diverted from
pharmaceutical companies in India. Ontog said four more ketamine
processing facilities have been discovered and dismantled by the PDEA
and the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force since
then.

Users usually inject ketamine but reports say the powder is now being
snorted or sniffed just like cocaine. A number of suicides attributed
to ketamine use has been reported in Southeast Asia, Europe and United
States.

Shabu Remains A Major Concern

Avenido said that although they are worried about the presence of
ketamine, methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu remains the number
one drug of abuse in the country.

He said that even if authorities have smashed dozens of shabu
laboratories and warehouses, the drug continues to be smuggled into
the country through four major avenues: the seaports, the
international airports, the mail and parcel services, and the vast
expanse of Philippine coastlines.

Shabu is shipped to the country mainly through the shorelines of
Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and Southern Luzon, specifically the
provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Zambales,
Aurora, Quezon, Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental, he said.

(To be concluded) 
- ---