By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.
CEBU CITY — After the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that 148 drug groups are operating in the country, with 26 groups based in Central Visayas, the Police Region 7 Office (PRO 7) said it will tighten its watch on the various means of transport – vehicles, ships and airplanes – coming to Cebu for possible drug smuggling.
The PRO 7 officials said it is continuously monitoring certain areas in Cebu to verify reports that a “shabu” laboratory has been set up here to supply illegal drugs to cities and towns in the Visayas and Mindanao.
While the authorities have not yet seen a clear indication that a shabu laboratory has indeed been operating in Cebu, PRO 7 Deputy Director for Administration Julio Augusto said that two places in Cebu had been monitored after reports of suspicious activities in these areas.
He said that islands owned by businessmen will also be monitored.
Reports of a possible drug laboratory in Cebu continue to fly thick and thin in this city and elsewhere in Cebu Province. These came as a result of the continuous supply of “shabu” despite the intensified campaign against illegal drugs.
The reports became terrifying when stories emanating from other sources indicated that the Philippines has now been tagged as an “export base” for illegal drugs.
These raw reports have sent shivers down the spine of authorities, who said they are checking and counter-checking to determine if these stories are true.
Frequent discoveries of drug laboratories lately confined to Luzon have led anti-drug crusaders to believe that some international syndicates with global connections are now operating in the country not only to serve local drug dependents but also for their clients overseas.
Aside from monitoring the many places here to locate the alleged drug laboratory, Augusto said the police will check entry and exit points for land, sea and air transportation.
They are concerned that Cebu could be transformed into a transshipment point for shabu.
He said that his men have been monitoring a ship that anchors at the Cebu port every month. It is possible that the vessel might be used to bring in drugs here.
He said his office has been receiving reports that several ships have dropped cargoes of shabu into the waters off Cebu.
In this connection, the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Foundation suggested the creation of a task force that will monitor shipments of various cargoes to Cebu.
It was suspected that these shipments might be used as front for smuggling of drugs.
