PDEA-7: Ten drug groups operate in CV

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said there are at least 10 drug syndicates operating in Central Visayas, four of which have already been neutralized.

PDEA-7 director Adrian Alvariño said these groups are capable to dispose millions worth of illegal drugs every week. He however refused to divulge the names of the groups but said they are already being monitored.

“We have criteria on how to include pushers in our watch list but since ang ubang groups medyo hinay na ang activities, we lower the count into 10 groups,” Alvariño said.

Alvariño said they were able to identify these groups based on the collated information they have gathered from intelligence and from suspected members that they have arrested in previous operations.

Alvariño said they are now focusing their anti-illegal drugs operations against drug dens and shabu Tiangge that are mostly found in Barangays Camagayan, Pit-os and Pardo.

He said PDEA financial investigators have targeted suspected drug financers as part of their intensified campaign against illegal drugs this year.

According to Alvariño, most drug financiers from abroad prefer to invest in the country allegedly because of the huge return of investment.

He said a P5-million investment for one kilo of shabu will return double because a gram of shabu can be divided into 40 plastic packs and sold at P300 to P500 each pack.

Meanwhile, Alvariño said that PDEA-7’s firepower was recently boosted with the acquisition of seven Tavor-21 high powered firearms, which was bought at P300,000.

Tavor-21 is an Israeli made bullpup assault rifle chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition with a selective fire system, selecting between semi-automatic mode, burst mode, and full automatic fire mode.

There will also be seven additional agents joining PDEA-7 to augment its existing manpower. With the additional agents Alvariño said there will be 50 of them in the team.

“We still need additional resources, manpower and logistics, we expect more help from various sectors especially from the government,” Alvariño said.

Alvariño is hoping that the people will cooperate since their operation is not only for them but for the benefit of the populace. (FREEMAN)