160 foreign, local drug syndicates on PDEA watchlist

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is monitoring six foreign syndicates and 100 local groups behind the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country. 

Rodolfo Caisip, PDEA deputy director general for operations, said they are now validating information on the syndicates believed to be behind the smuggling of chemicals used in manufacturing shabu.

“We can’t arrest them yet because we don’t have enough evidence against them,” Caisip said during the Talakayan sa Isyu ng Pulis, a weekly forum sponsored by the Philippine National Police.

Caisip noted that the six foreign syndicates all have Chinese nationals as members, including those from mainland China, Korea and Taiwan.

During the forum, Caisip also reported that since its creation five years ago, the PDEA has dismantled 40 shabu laboratories and 44 warehouses.  

Caisip, however, did not disclose the number of individuals arrested for illegal sales, distribution and possession of shabu, marijuana and Ecstasy  nationwide. –  Cecille Suerte-Felipe, Fritsche Bautista