METRO SHABU SUPPLY DROPS TO ALL-TIME LOW

Shabu supply in Metro Manila has dropped to an all-time low following
the recent neutralization by the anti-narcotics unit of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) of shabu laboratories and the confiscation of
close to 1,000 kilos of illegal drugs.

But Narcotics Group (NarcGroup) chief Director Efren Fernandez is not
yet ready to raise the flag of victory. "The reaction of prices and
supply of shabu in the streets would be determined in the next few
days," said Fernandez, pointing out that there might be other shabu
laboratories either in Metro Manila or in the provinces which are not
yet detected by the police.

The Star learned that drug pushers and users have a hard time getting
their illegal drugs supply because their sources have ran out of stocks.

Drug users are presently monitored spending or whiling away their time
playing billiards, darts, video karera and other electronic video games.

The low shabu supply was confirmed by local police Drug Enforcement
Unit (DEU) who have resorted to raiding jueteng and other illegal
gambling dens, including confiscation of video karera machines,
because they allegedly have gone out of targets. Unscrupolous DEU
operatives are reportedly harassing former drug pushers, who have
returned to normal lives, extorting a few extra bucks.

The police since late last year have neutralized shabu laboratories in
Pasig City and San Juan and confiscated close to 1,000 kilos of shabu
in Quezon, Zambales, Manila and Pasay City, respectively.

Fernandez admitted that the series of police operations have
dramatically reduced the shabu supply in Metro Manila.

But his men, the NarcGroup chief said, are still on the alert
following reports that the local counterparts of the Chinese triads
are out to flood the streets with shabu before the Chinese New Year on
Feb. 12.

"We received reports that other bigtime drug syndicates have lied low
following our recent successes," Fernandez said. "They are closely
monitoring our follow-up operations and had been adopting a
wait-and-see attitude."

Fernandez's theory was echoed by Senior Superintendent Nicasio
Radovan, head of the Metro Manila Drug Enforcement Group (MMDEG)
saying the shabu supply in the metropolis hit an all-time low the past
few days.

"It is evident that shabu supply is now very low compared to the
figures listed the previous years," Radovan told The Star. "What we
are recovering the past few days are only small quantities of shabu
from street-level pushers."

Despite this positive development, Metro Manila police chief Director
Edgar Aglipay said there will be no let-up in the police effort to rid
the metropolis of shabu.

"The shabu supply has gone low but this does not mean that we will now
lower our guard in the fight against illegal drugs," said Aglipay.

Aglipay has directed the five police district directors to extend full
support to the NarcGroups effort to discover "more shabu
laboratories in Metro Manila."