PDEA identifies 6 ‘ninja cops’ linked to ‘drug queen’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has identified six “ninja cops” linked to the so-called “drug queen,” a politician whose network is said to be selling at least P13.6 million of “shabu” in two streets of Manila in just a week.

He said the PDEA also identified 17 distributors of illegal drugs from the high-profile drug trader, but refused to disclose their names or the identities of the police officers.

“Just to show gaano kabigat magbenta ng drugs itong drug queen na ito, in two streets in Manila alone, she disposes two to three kilograms a week. Ganoon katindi. Two streets pa lang yan ha,” Aquino said in a press conference at the PDEA office in Quezon City.

READ: PDEA chief: Manila ‘drug queen’ buys seized drugs from law enforcers

(Just to show how large the operation of this drug queen is, she disposes two to three kilograms of “shabu” in just a week in two streets in Manila. That’s how big her network is. That’s just for two streets.)

A kilogram of “shabu” is currently worth P6.8 million, according to PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Aquino said two of the six police officers from whom the drug queen purchases “recycled drugs” seized in operations are already dead, while one is on absent without official leave (AWOL) status.

“There are still other ninja cops who were unidentified,” he said, adding that the highest rank of the ninja cop they suspect to be connected to the drug queen is a Police Executive Master Sergeant. He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) already knows the identities of these rogue officers.

During the press briefing, Aquino also revealed that the PDEA will soon launch another operation against the Manila-based drug trader in the next weeks or months, after two failed attempts of the agency and the National Bureau of Investigation to operate against her. He said the target area is being protected by the ninja cops.

According to Aquino, there were 15 original ninja cops from the Western Police District — now the Manila Police District — who have been reassigned to other districts in Metro Manila and in other provinces.

“They were reassigned to QCPD (Quezon City Police District) and other police districts. Nanganak nang nanganak (It spread out),” he said.

But according to Aquino, the number of ninja cops have decreased over the years, but the prevalence of the recycling of drugs remains.

As for the drug queen, Aquino said she has a lot of connections and a relative who is a police officer.

“She’s so powerful that she knows a lot of politicians,” he said.

He revealed the PDEA is preparing to send a letter addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte giving him information on the drug queen and her allies in the police. /je