Subic Bay Drug Haul;Largest Shabu Seizure

In May and June 2008, four series of successful seizures of high-grade methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu took place in Subic Bay Free Port by the joint elements of PDEA, SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG). When combined, these four seizures were considered to be the largest seizure of shabu so far in the country. The total volume of seized shabu in the four seizures was 745.36 kilograms with an estimated value of Php5.54 Billion. This experience has fortified the coordinating framework among drug law enforcement units to intensify interdiction operations on Philippine shorelines and the different entry, exit points and trafficking routes in the country.

Cocaine Infiltration;Largest Cocaine Seizure In December 2009, a shipment of estimated two tons of cocaine thrown by a Chinese vessel somewhere east north-east of Borongan, Eastern, Samar was reported to the PDEA. Thereafter, the Agency created Task Force Samar to conduct intensified recovery and seizure operations on the unaccounted cocaine bricks.

Cocaine, before this time, was not yet well-known in the Philippines. The Samar cocaine incident was assumed to be the primary cause of prevalence of the said illegal drug in the country. The Agency is still continuing its steadfast investigation for the remaining cocaine. From 22 December 2009 to 31 September 2012, a total of 590.69 kilograms cocaine was recovered as a result of combined efforts of PDEA and other law enforcement agencies. While it is believed that some of the cocaine are being sold illicitly in the country, it is also possible that other unaccounted cocaine might have sunk in the ocean.

20092008

8 Annual Report 2012Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency8 Annual Report 2012Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency

Establishment of Task Force Drug Couriers (TFDC)

The evident increase in the number of Filipinos being lured, tempted and eventually recruited to be drug couriers has been noted. There are already numerous Filipino drug couriers arrested in different countries. In order to address the prevailing threat of Filipinos being exploited as drug couriers by drug syndicates, the Task Force Drug Couriers (TFDC) was created on February 8, 2010 by virtue of Administrative Order 279. The TFDC mission is to deter, prevent, and protect Filipinos from being used by international drug trafficking syndicates. The Task Force is chaired by the PDEA and co-chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with the following agencies as members: Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Manila International Airport Authority, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine National Police - Aviation Security Group, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and Office of the President - Office of the Executive Secretary.

The Largest Eradication of Marijuana Plantations

Since the creation of the PDEA, numerous anti-illegal drug operations had been successfully conducted. One of the major operations accomplished was the eradication of the largest site of marijuana plantation along the tri-boundaries of La Union, Ilocos Sur and Benguet. Joint elements of PDEA Regional Offices, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, implemented OPLAN “FARMVILLE,” in February. This resulted in the seizure and destruction of the biggest value of eradicated marijuana with a total amount of Php1.5 billion at 84 marijuana plantations covering an area of 300,691 square meters or 30.07 hectares.

20112010

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2012House in Posh Village Converted to Clandestine Laboratory

At the beginning of 2012, three (3) clandestine laboratories established at an upper class village in Ayala, Alabang were dismantled by PDEA which resulted in the arrest of 5 Chinese nationals (including the leader and chemist of the Lam Transnational Drug Group) and the seizure of various dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, and non-drug evidence estimated to be worth Php53 million.

Two more clandestine laboratories operated by the group were later dismantled in Caloocan City (medium-scale) and Paranaque City (large-scale).

This new emerging trend reveals that even secured and exclusive posh villages are now being utilized to manufacture illegal drugs making it tougher for law enforcers to track and easier for drug syndicates to hide.

10 Annual Report 2012Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency

&During the ‘60s until the late ‘80s, the most prominent drug threat encountered in the Philippines was marijuana abuse. Marijuana, or cannabis sativa, was not difficult to acquire for it grows naturally in the country. Cultivation of the plant was largely concentrated in Northern Luzon, with most of the producing areas located in the Cordillera Administrative Region and its tri-boundaries of Region 1, CAR (Ifugao, Mt. Province and Kalinga), and Region 2. In Visayas, cultivation sites were found in Region 7. In Mindanao, marijuana plantations can be found in Regions 10,11,12,13, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In the early ‘90s, amphetamine type stimulant (ATS) was introduced. Metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in crystalline form, a type of ATS, gained so much popularity. Before, it was generally smuggled into the country in finished form. In the late ‘90s, however, the strategy of illegal drug traffickers intensified resulting to a shift of scheme from smuggling to manufacturing.

At the start of the 21st century, a trend in the growing production of illicit drugs was observed. From rural areas, clandestine laboratories gradually transferred to urban areas coming closer to the consumers. Warehouses, residential houses and apartments or condominiums were utilized.

Because of effective anti-illegal drug operations, dismantling of clandestine laboratories were intensified, prompting the syndicates to relocate the production facility to rural areas. This time, instead of doing the whole production process in one location, drug syndicates modified the process by setting-up several different production areas and dividing the production in stages.

Traffickers incessantly found ways to hide their operations and transactions from authorities. Utilization of commercial establishments like hotels and inns became popular because of the laxity in security and guaranteed customer’s privacy in the said establishments. Moreover, jail facilities, parking lots and even baggage counters of malls were also being utilized in illegal drug transactions.

The influx of illegal drugs in the country greatly influenced the people. Different kinds of illicit drugs had been abused -- from marijuana to shabu in crystalline form. There had been a rapid shift in the drug trend but abusers easily adopted.

Drug Problem in the Philippines

Then Now

Furthermore, exploitation of minors as runners, drug couriers and peddlers became rampant because of their exemption from criminal liability as provided in Section 6 of RA 9344, otherwise known as the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.”

Drug syndicates, being motivated by profit, saw every little opportunity to capitalize on. Most of the bulk trafficking and manufacturing activities in the country were undertaken by transnational groups, mostly composed of Chinese personalities. Local drug groups were predominantly involved in distribution of illegal drugs in different barangays.

The most recent development in illicit trafficking is the involvement of African drug groups whose main activity is the recruitment of Filipinos to be drug couriers.

The increase in the price of shabu, from Php2,000/gram in 2002 to Php11,800/gram in 2009, had been observed. However, from 2009 to 2012 the price of shabu continues to drop. This manifested that the supply of shabu in the recent years had sustained the demand. This can be attributed to the presence of clandestine laboratories and smuggling of illegal drugs into the country despite the unwavering effort of the PDEA and other law enforcement agencies in pinning down drug groups.

As of this writing, prices of marijuana constantly range from Php15 to Php300 per gram. Ecstasy costs Php1,100 to Php1,800 per tablet and the price of cocaine is Php5,000 to Php7,000 per gram.

Nevertheless, the Agency is relentless in its fight against illegal drug activities. As of this date, a total of 91 shabu laboratories have already been dismantled, through the concerted efforts of the PDEA and other law enforcement agencies in cracking down the illicit operations of drug syndicates in the country.

11Annual Report 2012Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency