MANILA, Philippines - To dispel the allegations of a disgruntled anti-narcotics agent that it has been singling out certain Chinese drug lords in its operations, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday said almost half of foreign drug personalities nabbed have been Chinese nationals.
The PDEA said that out of the 53 foreign drug personalities apprehended during operations for first half of 2013, Chinese nationals still topped the list, with 26 or 49 percent.
The PDEA also noted that it has stepped up its campaign against drug couriers, with 13 members of the African syndicates nabbed, seven of whom were Nigerians, during operations during the first half of the year.
PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the agency has shifted its efforts to neutralizing high value targets and conducting high impact operations to comply with President Benigno Aquino III's marching order to suppress the supply of illegal drugs in the country.
He also noted that PDEA, from January to June 2013, conducted a total of 7,789 anti-illegal drugs operations which resulted in the seizure of an estimated P1.2 billion worth of dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals, and the arrest of 4,476 drug personalities, 333 of them were high value targets.
"We have crossed the halfway mark of the year with the arrests of high value targets which confirmed their vital roles in the bulk distribution of illegal drugs in the country," Cacdac said.
The agency came out with such a report after a PDEA agent Jonathan Morales claimed that PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. has been reluctant in going after Chinese drugs syndicates operating in the country.