The P1.9-billion worth of suspected shabu seized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement agencies Sunday in a warehouse in Tanza, Cavite was believed to have entered the country through shipside smuggling.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino suspects that it came from the countries in Southeast Asia where the packages of contraband were dropped off the sea from large ships before eventually being picked up by smaller vessels before being brought to the country’s coastlines.
He said the illegal drugs came from the dreaded “Golden Triangle” in the border of Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.
Years of broad investigation prompted Aquino to say the Golden Triangle syndicate is “persistent” in shipping drugs into the country, focusing mainly on shipside smuggling after authorities became more stringent in guarding airports and seaports.
Aquino revealed the group is also responsible for shipping in drugs from Mindanao with their contraband being a “little cheaper’’ since they are coursed through Sulu Sea.
He added the drugs come from either Malaysia, Indonesia, or Thailand, with the Golden Triangle group bringing it to Zamboanga.
From Zamboanga, it will be distributed to Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, and all other parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Most of the times, it also infiltrates Metro Manila.
In the latest multi-billion drug haul, Aquino believes that based on months of extensive investigation, the drop-off of contraband took place in Region 1 and brought to Cavite.
The PDEA chief noted that from Cavite, the illegal drugs were transported to Metro Manila, citing the province is adjacent to the National Capital Region where it is ready for distribution to the area’s huge market. (Chito
Chavez)