NBI alarmed by abundance of illegal drugs in Cebu

The Philippines is no longer just a conduit for the transport of illegal drugs but has become its final destination, according to the National Bureau of investigation (NBI).

“We are no longer just a transhipment area, but have become a drop-off point based on the alarming increase of supply of illegal drugs particularly in Central Visayas,” said Virgilio Mendez, NBI deputy director for regional services.

Mendez said the abundant supply of illegal drugs particularly in Cebu was “very alarming because of its direct effect on crime.”

He said that foreign nationals who used to serve as drug mules or transporters were now engaged in the drug retail business.

“They are directly competing with local pushers, and, due to oversupply, prices of illegal drugs, particularly shabu, have tremendously deacreased,” Mendez said.

Privately, some members of affluent families in the city are disturbed by teh the reported “abundant supply.”

“We are really scared by the effect of the easy availability of these illegal drugs,” one source told the Inquirer. “Our biggest fear is for the illegal drugs trade to reach the countryside faster than we thought.”

Oversupply

Mendez also cited lax security at provincial airports and seaports.

“Due to the oversupply, prices have gone down and drugs are now readily available,” Mendez said.

NBI Central Visayas Regional Director Antonio Pagatpat said that foreign nationals like Nigerian businessman James Cunta Okwudili Uyanneh who was arrested last week are commpeting with local retailers.

“Foreign nationals have become so arrogant that they are now direct competitors of local retailers and openly sell the illegal drugs,” Pagatpat said.

Pagatpat said the Nigerian even required buyers to bring their own weighing scale.

“He told our undercover agent to bring a weighing scale when they meet for the buy,” Pagatpat said.

“What is alarming also is that when we raided the house, we did not see any sign that the drugs were manufactured there; no cooking materials were found, what we just found were the finished product,” he said.

Authorities in Cebu said they have tightened security at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the port of Cebu.

“The Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) is strictly checking luggages of passengers who come in and out of our ports,” said lawyer Karen Gonzales, media liaison officer of the CPA.

She said x-ray machines and electronic detectors and sniffer dogs were deployed to screen bags and cargoes that pass through the seaport.

“We have two x-ray machines per terminal and we also have highly-trained K-9 dogs,” Gonzales said.

Senior Supt. Ritchie Posadas, chief of the 7th Police Center for Aviation Security, said the MCIA is fully equipped to screen and intercept illegal drugs coming in and out of the airport.

“I think our security is enough because we have also been collaborating with other agencies. Definitely we are focusing on security inside the airport,” he said. /Inquirer, Michelle Joy L. Padayhag and Joy Cherry Quito