PDEA teams on alert vs 147 drug syndicates

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) revealed yesterday teams have been closely monitoring seven international and 140 local drug syndicates believed to be operating the P700-billion drug industry in the country.

Superintendent Franklin Gabriel, information officer of the PDEA, said their agents, together with other law enforcers, are keeping watch on airports and seaports, where members of the syndicates could enter.

"There are seven transnational and about 140 local drug syndicates in the country. These are the groups the PDEA is monitoring," Gabriel said during yesterday’s weekly Fernandina Media Forum held at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

The said they are closely motoring, together with other government authorities, ports of entry such as international airports and seaports, where these syndicate members could enter.

The police are also monitoring shorelines where syndicates could dump illegal drugs.

"We are doing everything so we can stop this illegal trade," Gabriel said, noting most of their information were given to them by foreign authorities, local and barangay officials, and intelligence groups.

"We are validating the information through actual operations," Gabriel said.

He said the seven transnational syndicates involve Chinese and Taiwanese groups.

Gabriel said the Philippine government is also coordinating with foreign governments.

"We are trying to find out through our intelligence if the seven syndicates have a set up bases here," he said. "We are also finding out if they have links to terror groups."

PDEA has also looked into possible involvement of the groups in human trafficking and money laundering.

He denied that a loyalty check is being conducted at the PDEA, but admitted that they are checking all information they have been receiving, including those involving policemen allegedly selling drugs.

PDEA admitted one of their officers were involved in the sale of shabu.

SPO4 Glen Logan, chief of the PDEA Internal Affairs Service (IAS) and lead investigator in the theft of shabu from their evidence room, has been arrested for selling illegal drugs.