SUSPECTED DRUG RING LEADER FALLS

A suspected leader of an international drug syndicate believed to be
behind the operation of shabu factories in the country was arrested by
the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Binondo, Manila before New
Year's Day, police officials said yesterday.

The suspect, William Gan, who uses Willy Gan and James Go Ong as
aliases, and his 33-year-old live-in partner were presented to
President Arroyo yesterday through a live video-teleconference by PNP
Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) chief
Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay, Interior and Local Government
Secretary Jose Lina, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief
Undersecretary Anselmo Avenido and resigned Immigration Commissioner
Andrea Domingo.

In a phone patch from Malacanang just after arriving from Zamboanga,
Mrs. Arroyo lauded the PNP and PDEA for a job well done.

Aglipay warned other ringleaders and syndicates operating in the
country against pursuing the illegal drugs trade.

"You can run, but you cannot hide... the days of the top brass of
transnational groups engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and
sales of dangerous drugs in the country are numbered," he said.

Gan and his live-in-partner Jia Shuxin were arrested in front of the
San Lorenzo Ruiz Church in Binondo, Manila at around 8:30 p.m. last
Dec. 26.

Gan and Shuxin are natives of Fujian, China.

"Informants and witnesses under the custody of the task force have
identified William Gan as the brains behind the operation of the two
laboratories and shipment of a ton of ephedrine," Aglipay said.

The arrest was made by virtue of the a mission order issued by the
Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID).

The duo were undocumented aliens.

Gan is allegedly a "major supplier" of drugs in Metro Manila and the
southern provinces near the metropolis. Seven of his men, also Chinese
nationals, were arrested in November.

Aglipay said Gan was behind the operations of the shabu factory
earlier raided by the police in Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Valenzuela
City last Nov. 11.

The Aid-SOTF seized 119 kilos of shabu and 728 kilos of ephedrine
during the raid.

Avenido said Gan's group are also believed to be behind the operation
of the shabu laboratory at 2 Evangelista street, Santolan, Pasig City,
where a large quantity of chemical and laboratory equipment used in
the manufacture of shabu were seized by the police last Dec. 4 .

Aglipay said the ton of ephedrine seized at the Manila International
Container Port last Nov. 27 was also traced to Gan.

Official statistics show that the Philippines has become a major
transshipment point for drugs in the region. The government has made
more than 16,000 drug-related arrests since 2001 and filed criminal
charges against some 10,000 suspects.