PASG halts drug shipment in Quezon

BATANGAS , Philippines  – Operatives of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group were able to intercept a drug shipment in Quezon province, Thursday evening, officials said.

Region 13 PASG Director Philip Placer said his agents seized chemicals used for the manufacture of metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Judith in Burdeos town in Icolong Island.

In a search warrant issued by Judge Cesar Mangrobang of the Regional Trial Court Branch 22, the PASG operatives swooped down at the compound of Akira Sakurai & Hiro Taniguchi, Howa Inc. Pearl Farm and seized highly-regulated chemicals such as potassium nitrate, disodium nitrogen phosphate, sodium orthosilicate N-hydrate powder, and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate.

Placer said the operation comes amid the leaking out of a US Drug Enforcement Agency (USDEA) report three weeks ago that $8.4 billion worth of dangerous drugs were either being generated, passes through, or is used by drug syndicates in the Philippines. “This incident gives physical credence to a US intelligence report of narco-politics shaping up in the country.

Placer revealed that money generated from international drug trafficking business could be the source of some local politicians for their campaign funds in the coming May 10 election. “With the uncovering of the key drug transhipment and manufacturing base on Icolong Island, the leadership of Quezon here is placed under scrutiny,” Placer said.

“This is international (drug operations) and it’s happening here in Burdeos. That should raise alarm on the national, local officials here, in fact, there is suspicion on the local government of letting this to happen,” Placer said.