Shabu shipment linked to Bilibid drug lord – PDEA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has confirmed the resurgence of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa following the supposed smuggling of at least one ton of shabu into the country last November.

PDEA chief Aaron Aquino tagged one of the 19 drug lords serving time at the NBP in the shabu shipment.

Aquino, however, refused to name the drug trafficker.

He said the inmate was able to facilitate the transaction for the shipment of shabu.

Aquino said they received an information from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration that more than one ton of shabu was about to enter the Philippines on board a Taiwanese vessel.

“Based on the information, the transaction was supposedly made by one of the inmates at the NBP,” he said. 

The PDEA chief said they failed to track down the shipment as verification showed that the ship was supposed to dock in Vigan. But another government agency said the vessel was still in Singapore. 

“We’re coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard and Marina,” he said. 

Aquino said he had informed President Duterte about the resurgence of the drug trade at the NBP.

 “The drug problem inside the NBP is so enormous and immense. More so that new players are coming in. With corrupt jail guards, no one can solve the illegal drug trade in the Bilibid,” Aquino said.  

He expressed hope that the entry of Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa in the Bureau of Corrections  (BuCor) would solve the drug problem at the national penitentiary.

President Duterte is set to appoint Dela Rosa as the next BuCor chief.

Dela Rosa will retire from the police service on Jan. 21, but his term has been extended for three months.

Aquino said NBP guards should be rotated every two weeks to avoid familiarity given the huge amounts of money circulating inside the prison.