THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has vowed to further intensify its high-impact operations (HIOs) against high-value targeted drug personalities in the country.
In support to President Duterte’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs, PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino said that the agency conducted anti-drug operations mainly targeting groups known to play key roles in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the streets.
“A person is said to be a high-value targeted drug personality if he/she is involved in illegal drug activities and falls under the following list and classification: priority targets; priority drug groups; government officials, either elected, government employee or law enforcers; foreign nationals; members of African Drug Syndicates (ADS); target-listed personalities; wanted listed personalities; celebrities and other well-known personalities; and members of armed groups,’’ Aquino said.
In 2018, a total of 1,612 drug personalities classified as high-value targets were arrested, including 53 foreigners, 57 elected officials, 15 uniformed personnel, 43 government employees, 200 drug group leaders/members, 14 armed drug group members, 182 drug den maintainers, 10 wanted-listed, 146 target-listed, other HVTs numbering to 407, and 485 drug personalities arrested in HIOs.
“Involvement of foreign nationals greatly contributes to the spread of illegal drug trade in the country. Majority of the foreigners arrested for drug-related offenses were Chinese nationals with 18 or 32.37 percent,” he added.
In April 2018, five Chinese nationals were arrested during separate raids that led to the dismantling of three clandestine drug laboratories in Batangas and Malabon.
Aquino said the arrested foreigners were members of Dragon Wu syndicate with links to the notorious “Golden Triangle”– known as the world’s foremost drug-producing region operating near the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
“Public servants and government workers are expected to lead the country in upholding the law. However, it is alarming to note that a handful of them are involved in the illegal drug trade,” Aquino noted.
As a result of law enforcement efforts against high-value targets, a total of 115 government workers were arrested in violation of the anti-drug law. (Chito Chavez)