Pubdate: Tue, 27 Dec 2016
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2016 BBC
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

PHILIPPINES POLICE SAY DRUG RAIDS NETTED UKP#120M WORTH OF METH

Authorities in the Philippines say a series of drugs raids have netted
nearly a tonne of methamphetamine, with a street value of UKP#120m
($147m).

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said the haul was the biggest in the
country's history.

Mr Aguirre said 10 people had been charged.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has pursued a bloody war on drugs
since taking office six months ago, encouraging police to shoot on site.

More than 6,000 drug users and dealers are suspected to have been killed
by both police and vigilantes since the crackdown began.

'Biggest haul in history'

Barrels of chemicals used to produce methamphetamine, or "shabu" as it is
known in the Philippines, were seized during a raid in the capital Manila,
Mr Aguirre said.

Six people were arrested the previous day, also in Manila, when 560kg
(1,200lb) of suspected methamphetamine, worth an estimated $67m, was found
in one raid.

Rodrigo Duterte: "I was looking for an encounter so I could kill"

Mr Duterte has faced allegations of widespread human rights violations
over his war on drugs and been accused of targeting low-level users and
pushers rather than high-level dealers.

He has expressed few regrets about the policy, once saying: "Hitler
massacred three million Jews... There's three million drug addicts. I'd be
happy to slaughter them."

He caused controversy earlier this month after admitting that, as mayor of
the southern city Davao, he had personally killed three men he said were
suspected of rape.

He ran Davao for 20 years, earning the nickname "The Punisher" for his
brutal approach to tackling crime.

Critics say he supported death squads in the city and continues to do so
as president.
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