PDEA: Drug pushers swing operations to rural areas
Apparently, illegal drug pushers can’t withstand the “heat” in urban areas that they opt to shift to the provinces.
This was the assessment of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) VI, as records showed an increase of the number of anti-narcotics operations in the provinces, particularly in Iloilo, and a direct contrast of anti-illegal drug activities in Iloilo City.
PDEA-6 regional director Paul Ledesma said that the regionwide operations shot up from 231 last year to 286 from January 1 to November 31, 2009.
“And it could go up to the 300 mark before the year ends,” he surmised.
Of the 231 operations in 2008, Ledesma noted that Iloilo City accounted for 107 operations.
However, it went down to only 62 of the 286 operations this year.
“Siguro, masyado lang gid diri kainit sa Iloilo City that they opted to cool down in the province,” the PDEA regional chief said adding that they are looking at the same personalities behind the illegal drug operations in the city last year and in the province this year.
“They have just relocated,” he added. “So, it’s not because that our operatives are not doing something here. The drug personalities were forced to shift to a different area of operations.”
He claimed that their records would support such assessment.
Further, Ledesma stated that there was also an increase in the number of arrested personalities.
From 322 last year, it went up to 443 as of November this year.
‘Preferred’ drugs
Aside from the shift of area of operations, Ledesma also took notice the number of operations made involving marijuana.
Last year, he claimed that marijuana accounted for about 20% of their operations.
But this year, almost half of their operations were on marijuana while the other half is metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
“So, apparently, there is also a shift in the drug preference,” Ledesma stated.
Records from PDEA revealed that from 5 kilos of marijuana recovered in last year’s operations, it went up to 9 kilos this year.
On the other hand, shabu recovery last year was 90 grams. But this year, it went down to only 65 grams.
The street of shabu concurred the said evaluation, as Ledesma bared from P25/gram last year, marijuana is now averaging at P45/gram this year.
The street price of shabu, meanwhile, which was pegged at P12,000/gram last year ebbed to only P10,000/gram this year.
“It’s still follows the law on supply and demand. Kung grabe and demand, naga-taas man ang price,” Ledesma stated.
