Pubdate: Mon, 19 Dec 2005
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Non Alquitran
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

SHABU PRICE SOARS TO ALL-TIME HIGH

The price of shabu in the streets of Metro Manila soared to an
all-time high of P3,000 per gram during the Christmas season, police
said yesterday.

"From a low of P1,200 per gram, a sachet of shabu now fetches P3,000,"
Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., intelligence chief of the
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), told The Star.

But he said the shabu supply now flooding the streets is of low
quality.

"Instead of buying shabu, people should spend their money on food and
gifts for their relatives and loved ones so they can have a joyous
Christmas," Rojas said. Earlier this month, elements of the Regional
Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (RAIDSOTF) headed by
Superintendent Jerry Valeroso arrested some 10 middle level pushers,
who claimed that they are now selling a gram of shabu for P3,000.
"They (pushers) told us that the sale is not that brisk because the
quality of the illegal drugs is not good anymore," said Rojas.

Superintendent Jojo Acierto, of the Special Operations Unit (SOU) of
the Camp Crame-based AIDSOTF, corroborated Rojas' findings.

Acierto said the shabu being peddled in the streets at this time were
either smuggled or had been produced locally.

"Parehas pa rin ang sistema. (It's still the same system)," said
Acierto, adding that drug syndicates had doubled their security to
prevent law enforcement agencies from busting their operations.

"Tuloy-tuloy naman ang trabaho natin kaya lang mahirap na talaga
silang mahuli (We continue to work hard but it's really hard to arrest
them)," said Acierto.

A total of 22 drug laboratories and warehouses were busted by the
AIDSOTF since its inception by President Arroyo years ago. Retired
generals Edgar Aglipay and Ricardo de Leon, former AIDSOTF commanders,
arrested more than 30 Chinese nationals and confiscated equipment and
raw materials worth billions of pesos.

Director Marcelo Ele Jr., the new AIDSOTF chief, has yet to show his
accomplishment.

According to Rojas, they are presently intensifying their search for
the source of shabu being peddled in Metro Manila.

"My men under Col. Valeroso are working 24-hours a day to neutralize
the shabu supply in Metro Manila this Christmas," he said.

Acierto said they also have standing orders from Gen. Ele not to lower
their guard in the war against illegal drugs even during the holidays.

He said AIDSOTF operatives are deployed to the streets and it's a
matter of time before they can produce a "big bang."

But another police official told The Star that the government's drive
against illegal drugs is being hampered by the non-cooperation of
various law enforcement agencies.

Aside from AIDSOTF, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and
the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are also conducting
anti-drug operations.

The non-coordination of law enforcement agencies in the fight against
drug syndicates appears to be the reason why no big-time drug lord has
been taken into custody during the past few months.

"Nagkakanya-kanya na ang mga law enforcement agencies kaya't walang
mabuwag na drug laboratories at mahuling drug lords (The law
enforcement agencies are each going their way so no drug laboratories
and drug lords are being caught)," a police official said.
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