PDEA-7: CV is just transshipment point

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 takes exception to the report of the United Nation that identifies the Philippines as one of the three countries in Asia producing amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS).

PDEA-7 director Jigger Montallana said his office has not monitored any drug laboratory operating in Central Visayas. He however admitted that the region is among the problematic areas in the Philippines in terms of illegal drugs. But said the region is only being used as transit point of illegal drugs.

“Since Cebu has international and local ports it is not impossible that it becomes a transshipment point of shabu,” Montallana explained.

Montallana said they are now focusing on supply reduction and on educating the people on the ill-effects of illegal drugs as preventive measures.

The World Drug Report of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime revealed that ATS manufacturing is concentrated mainly in China, Myanmar and the Philippines.

Montallana said after the government busted the biggest shabu laboratory in Asia in Mandaue City in 2004 no other laboratory was monitored in the region.

The PDEA-7 has identified at least four barangays in Cebu City as hotspots of illegal drugs. These include Pasil, Duljo-Fatima, Ermita, and A. Lopez.

In Cebu province, the towns of Cordova, Balamban, and Consolacion and the cities of Toledo, Danao, Carcar, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue were also identified as hotspots.

Montallana said they are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to intensify their anti-illegal drugs operations.

The PDEA-7 reported 1,126 operations last year resulting in the arrest of 1,036 persons. There were also 1,187 cases filed in court. A total of P59.7 million worth of illegal drugs was seized, an amount higher than the P40 million in 2010.—(FREEMAN)