Pubdate: Fri, 26 Aug 2005
Source: Visayan Daily Star (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Visayan Daily Star
Contact:  http://www.visayandailystar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1688
Author: Chrysee Samillano
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Philippines

SHABU SCARCE, PRICES RISE - PDEA

The significant increase in the street price of Methamphetamine
Hydrochloride, or shabu, from P1,200 to P2,500 per gram indicates that
there is scarcity of the illegal substance in Bacolod City, a
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency report said.

The reduction of shabu supply in Bacolod is the result of the
relentless anti-illegal drug operations conducted by the PDEA and the
Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task
Force, the report also claimed.

Both the PDEA and AIDSOTF have seized 93.96 grams of illegal drugs
worth P234,900 from January 1 to August 22, it said.

It added that the increasing number of marijuana apprehensions in some
areas in the city could also indicate the scarcity of shabu. Because
of the increase in the price of shabu, low income users have shifted
to marijuana which is more affordable and can be grown locally, it
said.

The report also cited the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. and
the Reclamation Area, and the cities of Kabankalan, San Carlos and
Escalante as possible points of entry of the illegal substance. It
added that shabu continues to be smuggled through air, land and sea
transportation from Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, Masbate,
Zamboanga and Ozamis City.

To date, there are no clandestine drug laboratory or marijuana
plantation in the city, the report said. It also said seriously
drug-affected barangays have been reduced to less-seriously affected
barangays, while identified drug personalities have slowed down in
their illegal activities or transferred their operation to other
areas, it added.

The PDEA also said that with the continuing cooperation of both the
private and public sector, it is optimistic that the drug problem can
be solved and the vision of a drug-free Philippines can be attained
before 2010. 
- ---