Pubdate: Fri, 24 Dec 2004
Source: People's Journal (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 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
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph
Cited: Philippine National Police http://www.pnp.gov.ph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

PDEA TRACKS DRUG ROUTES

AUTHORITIES have doubled their watch on known drug smuggling routes as the 
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency  and the Philippine National Police 
stepped up campaign against illegal drug trafficking and abuse.

PDEA chair Anselmo S. Avenido Jr. said they have tightened their watch on 
all air and sea ports with the help of the PNP and other law enforcement 
agencies including the Bureau of Customs, Navy and Coast Guard.

The PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force headed by Deputy 
Director General Ricardo F. de Leon is also at  the forefront of the 
campaign, which so far has resulted in the busting of 11 shabu laboratories 
and warehouses and the interdiction of shabu essential chemicals and 
precursors being smuggled into the country from China and India.

Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 imposes 
the penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P500,000 
to P10 million on any person, who, unless authorized by law, imports or 
brings into the country any dangerous drugs, regardless of the quantity and 
purity, including and all species of opium poppy or any part thereof or 
substances derived therefrom even for floral, decorative and culinary purposes.

This developed as the police continue its investigation into the so-called 
Bicol-Cebu drug connection believed to be behind the proliferation of shabu 
in both regions.

The investigation was ordered following the arrest of a notorious drug 
dealer from Cebu by authorities at the Masbate City Port.

Police Regional Office 5 director Chief Supt. Restituto P. Mosqueda said 
the suspect, Felix L. Punay, yielded P50,000 worth of shabu when he was 
arrested aboard M/V Tacloban Princess which docked at the Masbate City port.

Mosqueda said Punay was to meet his contacts involved in the sale of the 
so-called "poor man's cocaine" in Masbate when he was arrested.

"Punay has been identified by another arrested drug pusher in Masbate as 
the source of the drugs recovered from his possession," Mosqueda said.
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