PDEA: China still top source of illegal drugs

MANILA, Philippines — Most of the illegal drugs smuggled into the country are from China, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said yesterday.

“The large-scale smuggling and setting up of shabu laboratories are the typical works of Chinese drug trafficking organizations,” PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said in an interview over dzBB radio.

The government seized 2,577.05 kilos of shabu worth P13.24 billion in law enforcement operations since July 2016.

Carreon said shabu is also being smuggled in smaller quantities by Mexican drug syndicates through the mail and parcels system.

Proof of this is the seizure of 6.89 kilos of shabu in Trece Martires City, Cavite on Jan. 24 where the drugs were put in a package from the United States.

The PDEA earlier said the drugs could have been smuggled by the Sinaloa drug cartel based in Mexico.

Carreon said they are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies such as the Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Ports Authority to strengthen security measures at airports and seaports to prevent drugs being smuggled into the country.