Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2005
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Anthony Vargas
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?158 (Club Drugs)

PNP: ILLEGAL DRUG IMPORTS REDUCED BY 65 PERCENT

THE Philippine National Police has reduced by as much as 65 percent
the importation of illegal drugs, including shabu, in the country,
Deputy Director General Ricardo de Leon announced on Thursday.

De Leon, commander of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations
Task Force, attributed the decrease to stronger operations against
syndicates running shabu and ketamine laboratories in the country.

"Our only problem now is reducing demand for illegal drugs.  This is
the reason the smallest unit of our society, the family, must be
involved in the fight against drugs.  The family must police and
protect itself from the drug menace," de Leon said.

He said his unit and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency are
working with cause-oriented groups and the Chinese Filipino community
to identify Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in the drug
trade.

"Most of the chemists or members of drug syndicates come from [Chinese
communities]. There were also some Taiwanese and Malaysians, based on
our records," de Leon said.

On Monday, antinarcotic agents recovered 54 crates and six drums of
chemicals used for the manufacture of shabu in a remote area in San
Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

The police believed a drug syndicate abandoned the chemicals after the
police raided a drug laboratory in Apo Street, Teresita Heights,
Quezon City. The police seized P34-million worth of ketamine in the
raid. 
- ---