ANTI-DRUG AGENCY SAYS DRUG DEALERS MIGHT SHIFT TO SMUGGLING

Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in
Pangasinan and in the region have been strengthening their monitoring
activity on shorelines along the Lingayen Gulf to deter the possible
shifting of strategy of drug dealers.

Due to the successive crackdowns on clandestine illegal drug
laboratories in the National Capital Region (NCR), "the drug dealers
might revert to smuggling," said Chief Insp. Christopher Abrahano,
PDEA provincial officer.

He pointed out that although the drug syndicates know that it costs
more to smuggle finished products, they might shift to the shipment of
drugs from other countries. "They could at least raise the price of
the prohibited drugs among their customers," he said.

The establishment of clandestine laboratories purportedly came into
existence when the drug dealers realized it would cost them less to
manufacture than to ship manufactured prohibited drugs into the country.

"This is why there was no reported shipment of drugs in our
shorelines. In Pangasinan, smuggling of drugs was zero," Abrahano said.

The PDEA provincial head said once the syndicates shift back to
smuggling, it would be harder for them to detect it because they would
be at the mercy of the decision of the drug dealers as to when to ship
their stuff.

"Compared to clandestine laboratories wherein we have some know
indicators, a checklist to know the place, in smuggling, we should
keep a tight watch of the shorelines and it is very long even in
Region I, from Zambales to Ilocos Norte," he said.

Asked why the law enforcers only acted when President Arroyo berated
two high police officials, Abrahano said it is the style of leadership
of the President to give harsh motivation.

"It's needed to hammer them at times," he said.

He cited that last June, the campaign against illegal drugs was slow,
but when there was threat of relief for non-performing policemen,
"everybody had been working."

Abrahano also said the busting of clandestine laboratories, made
through a tip from concerned citizens, is a positive indication the
public already has trust and confidence in law enforcers.

"The awareness among the people has risen to a considerable level," he
said.

He likewise admitted that the PDEA provincial office had lied low
during these past two months but only in terms of giving interviews
and press releases.

The PDEA official said they are now handling sensitive cases in which
there is a tendency of leakage.

"We have been concentrating on busting the remaining drug syndicates
in the province," he said.

He said sometime last July, he disclosed there were four remaining
drug syndicates in Pangasinan. According to him, two of them had been
busted in September.

But after re-evaluation of drug personalities and groups not yet
neutralized, there were new suspects who add to the drug watch list,
he said.

Abrahano, however, said the province was at par with the 50 percent
targeted goal.

The number of drug personalities dropped by 40 percent to 154 in
September from June. However, in October to November, it decreased to
73 and that is more than 50 percent.

He pointed out that what the drug personalities knew was that the
campaign against illegal drugs was over after September deadline. "But
we are still pursuing the campaign," he said.

He further disclosed that only a few of their operations now are being
undertaken through search warrants because the drug pushers have
learned a thing or two from the massive campaign from June to September.

"They are no longer keeping their stuff in their base of operation.
They rent a safehouse and only release drugs when there are orders,"
he said.

Abrahano said since September they have shifted their tactic of
apprehending drug dealers to buy-bust operations.

Last October, they confiscated 50 grams of shabu from a man from Laoag
who was making a delivery in Pangasinan. In La Union, they also seized
50 to 100 grams of the prohibited drugs through buy-bust operations.