DRUG TRAFFICKING

Sequence of Presentation:
I. Introduction
II. General Overview
III. Definition of Terms
IV. History of Drug Trafficking
V. Modus Operandi
VI. Effects of Drug Trafficking
VII.Laws and rules covering the Drug Trafficking
VIII.Conclusion
IX. Recommendation
 I. Introduction:
Criminal networks traffic a range of drugs including cannabis,
cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.  As international borders
become increasingly porous, global abuse and accessibility to
drugs have become increasingly widespread.
This international trade involves growers, producers, couriers,
suppliers and dealers. It affects almost all of our member
countries, undermining  political and economic stability, ruining the
lives of individuals and damaging communities. The end-users and
addicts are often the victims of a powerful and manipulative
business. 
 I. Introduction:
Drug trafficking is often associated with other forms of crime,
such as money laundering or corruption. Trafficking routes can
also be used by criminal networks to transport other illicit products.
As criminals devise ever-more creative ways of disguising
illegal drugs for transport, law enforcement faces challenges in
detecting such concealed substances. In addition, new synthetic
drugs are produced with regularity, so police need to always be
aware of new trends and products on the illicit market.
 II. General Overview
Dominant Drugs in the Philippine Market Drug user profile indicates
the majority of drug dependents in the country are poly-drug users or
users who use several types of illegal drugs. More often than not, the
abuse is done mainly for pleasure. There are also cases where illegal
drugs are used by individuals to cope with the demands of their work, like
those working in graveyard shifts, or working for long hours and the like.
The availability of illegal drugs encourage the user to take illicit drugs.
Methamphetamine hydrochloride (“shabu”) remains to be the most
abused dug in the country, followed by marijuana(“cannabis sativa”) and
the methylenedioxymethampetamine (“MDMA”) or “ecstacy”. Ecstacy is
well known for being a “party drug”, which is commonly used in parties
and nightlife,is considered as the most expensive drug in the market.
Solvents and other inhalants are also a preference and are usually
abused by street children.
 II. General Overview
Drug trafficking is the most prevalent and by far the most
pervasive illegal activity in the Philippines. It is subdivided into four
activities such as: transportation of dangerous drugs and controlled
precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs), manufacture,
distribution and the use thereof. Street-level pushing is still the most
wide-spread distribution activity. This is the way drug syndicates
bring dangerous drugs to clients at the barangay level. At the street
level, drugs are retailed to make them affordable. Drug traffickers
never cease to find various ways to hide their illegal transactions.
II. General Overview
II. General Overview
II. General Overview
II. General Overview
II. General Overview
II. General Overview
II. General Overview
II. General Overview
 III. Definition of Terms
Drug Trafficking 
is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation,
manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are
subject to drug prohibition of laws.

Drug Syndicate  
refers to organized group of two (2) or more persons
forming or joining together with intention of committing any
offense prescribed under RA 9165.
 III. Definition of Terms
Cannabis
commonly known as “marijuana” or “indian hemp” or by its any other
name.— marijuana is the term used to describe all the plant material like
leaves, tops, stems, flowers and roots from a cannabis plant (cannabis
sativa), dried and prepared for smoking or taken orally as “brownies”.
 III. Definition of Terms
Methamphetamine Hydrochloride
commonly known as “shabu”, “ice”,
“meth”, or by its any other name.
— Methamphetamine hcl, a type of
amphetamine is also known as “poor
man’s cocaine”. Other names are shabu,
ubas, siopao, sha and ice. Shabu is a
white, odorless crystal or crystalline
powder with a bitter numbing taste.
 III. Definition of Terms
Methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA)

commonly known as “ecstasy”, or by its any

other name.— refers to the drug having such
chemical composition, including any of its
isomers or derivatives in any form. MDMA was
first developed as an appetite suppressant in
1914 by the German Company, Merck. in the
1970's, U.S. therapists led by biochemist
Alexander Shulgin used the drug to help
patients explore their feelings.
 III. Definition of Terms
Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
have been known in the market
by terms such as “designer drugs”,
legal highs”, “herbal highs”, “bath
salts”, “research chemicals”,
“laboratory reagents”. 
 III. Definition of Terms
Oplan Tokhang
is a national law enforcement project that was launched over the country.
A Visayan word 'TOKHANG” means to approach and talk. This was
launched as part of the campaign to warn drug traffickers and users to stop
using drugs.

Project HVT
is a sustained anti-illegal drugs police operation that includes buy-busts,
service of search and arrests warrants, manhunts, raids, and checkpoints
against High Value and Street Level Targets involved in trafficking and
selling of illicit drugs.
IV. History of Drug Trafficking

Illegal Drugs Traffic Route

The 1st Drug Traffic Route

Middle East – discovery, plantation, cultivation, harvest

  Turkey - preparation for distribution

  Europe - manufacture,synthesis, refine

 
U.S. - Marketing
IV. History of Drug Trafficking

The 2nd Major Drug Traffic Route

a. Drugs that originates from the “Golden
Triangle”
Burma/Myanmar

Thailand Laos
 IV. History of Drug Trafficking
b. Drugs that originates from the Golden Crescent

- Iran

- Afghanistan

- Pakistan

- India
 IV. History of Drug Trafficking
1. Southeast Asia – the “Golden Triangle” approximately produced
60% of opium in the world, 90% percent of opium in the eastern
part of Asia. It is also the officially acknowledged source of
Southeast Asian Heroin.
2. Southwest Asia – the “Golden Crescent” is the major supplier of
opium poppy, MJ and Heroin products in the western part of Asia.
It produces at least 85% to 90% of all illicit heroin channeled in the
drug underworld market.
3. Middle East – the Becka Valley of Lebanon is the biggest
producer of cannabis in the Middle East. Lebanon is also
considered as the transit country for cocaine from South America
to European markets.
 IV. History of Drug Trafficking

4. Spain – major transshipment point for international drug traffickers

in Europe – known as “the paradise of drug users in Europe”.
5. South America – Columbia, Peru, Uruguay, and Panama are the
sources of all cocaine supply in the world.
6. Morocco – the number one producer of cannabis in the world.
(2003 to 2006).
7. Philippines – the major transshipment point for the worldwide
distribution of illegal drugs such as shabu and cocaine from Taiwan
and South America. The second world’s supplier of MJ and the drug
paradise of drug abusers in Asia.
8. India – center of the world’s drug map, leading to rapid addiction
among its people.
 IV. History of Drug Trafficking

9. Indonesia – Northern Sumatra has traditionally been the main

cannabis growing area in Indonesia. Bali Indonesia is an important
transit point for drugs en route to Australia and New Zealand.
10. Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand – the most favorable sites
of drug distribution from the “Golden Triangle” and other parts of
Asia.
11. China – the transit route for heroin from “Golden Triangle” to H.K.
12. Hong Kong – the world’s transshipment point of all forms of
heroin.
13. Japan – the major consumer of cocaine and shabu from U. S.
and Europe
 IV. History of Drug Trafficking

Organized Crime Groups behind the Global Drug Scene

Columbian Medellin Cartel

•  Founded during the 1980’s by Colombian drug lords in the name

of Pablo Escobar Gaviria and drug bosses Jose Gonzalo
Rodriguez Gacha and the top aid cocaine barons Juan David and
the Ochoa Brothers.
• ‘The Medellin Cartel is reputedly responsible for organizing world’s
drug trafficking network. The Columbian government succeeded in
containing the Medellin Cartel, which resulted in the death,
surrender, and arrest of the people behind the organization. This
further resulted to the disbandment of the Cartel led to its downfall.
 IV. History of Drug Trafficking

Cali Cartel
 
• The downfall of the Columbian Medellin Cartel is the rise of the
Cali Cartel - the newly emerged cocaine monopoly. Gilberto
Rodriquez Orajuela –Don Chepe - “the chess player” heads the
syndicated organization. Under him, the Cali cartel was considered
the most powerful criminal organization in the world. The cartel
produces over 90% of cocaine in the world. Due to this, it was
called the best and the brightest of the modern underworld. “ They
are professionals of the highest order, intelligent, efficient,
imaginative, and nearly impenetrable” – US - Drug Enforcement
Agency.
 IV. History of Drug Trafficking

The Chinese Triad

• The Chinese Triad is also called the Chinese Mafia – the
oldest and biggest criminal organization in the world. It is
believed to be the controller of the “Golden Triangle”.
 V. Modus Operandi

The pretext of marriage. A very tempting all-expense paid trip

offer with a large sum of money for every transaction made.
These are just some of the tricks drug syndicates use to lure their
next victims to smuggle illegal drugs into another country.
Recruiters of drug syndicates usually be friend their potential
victims through casual acquaintances or the internet. Sometimes, they
enter into a relationship and even promise to marry the unsuspecting
victims to further earn their trust.
 V. Modus Operandi

Drug mules or “drug couriers” are

individuals who transport dangerous drugs
in exchange for a huge amount of money,
depending on the amount of drugs to be
delivered and the route/distance to be
traveled.
Alarmingly, the number of Filipinos
victimized as drug couriers by international
drug trafficking syndicates is increasing. in
1993, there were only 2 recorded Filipinos
arrested abroad for drug trafficking. At
present, the figure ballooned to 710.
 V. Modus Operandi

It has been a noticeable trend that more female Filipino drug

couriers are being exploited by drug trafficking syndicates: of
the 710 arrested, 265 or 37% are males while 445 or 63% are
females. Women are usually targeted by syndicates since they
generally generate mild suspicion from authorities and the
female body has more cavities possible to insert the drugs in,
therefore posing less detection risk.
 V. Modus Operandi

Methods of Concealment of Arrested Couriers

Abroad

 Hidden in luggage/suitcases (38%)

 Ingestion/swallowing (29%)
 Placed in shoes (7%)
 Placed in bottom part of luggage
(5%)
 Placed inside handbag (4%)
 Others (17%): undergoing minor
operation, placing in shoe
boxes/books/bottles/parcels, etc.
 V. Modus Operandi

Couriers may also be recruited through the internet and social networking
sites like facebook, myspace, tagged, etc. syndicates also engage in travel &
tours businesses/agencies to arrange airline and hotel bookings of the
couriers and use fraudulent documents/fake credit cards.
The African Drug Syndicate (ADS) is believed to be behind the alarming
increase of Filipino drug couriers arrested abroad. They deliver drugs to their
connections in different points around the world by employing drug couriers to
prevent the risk of getting caught themselves. They also use Filipinos as
cohorts to recruit fellow OFWs.
 V. Modus Operandi

 On May 28, 2017, the B

ureau of Customs (BOC)
seized ₱6.4 billion worth of 
methamphetamine in two
warehouses in barangay
Ugong of Valenzuela in M
etro Manila. The BOC said
that they acted on an
intelligence report relayed to
them by the G
eneral Administration of Custo
ms
 of China.
 V. Modus Operandi

 On August 8, 2018,
BOC cites shipment
bust as ‘one of
biggest drug hauls’.
V. Modus Operandi
VI. Effects of Drug Trafficking
 Crimes
 Addiction
 Poverty
 Depression
 Unemployment
 Health problem
 Socio economic problems
 Unproductive society
VII. Laws and rules covering the Drug Trafficking
RA 9165

An act instituting the comprehensive dangerous drugs act

of 2002, repealing republic act no. 6425, otherwise known as
the dangerous drugs act of 1972, as amended, providing
funds therefor, and for other purposes.
 VII. Laws and rules covering the Drug Trafficking
 Section 5 of RA 9165
  Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous
Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals. - The penalty of life imprisonment to
death and a fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos
(P10,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who, unless authorized by law, shall sell, trade,
administer, dispense, deliver, give away to another, distribute dispatch in transit or transport any
dangerous drug, including any and all species of opium poppy regardless of the quantity and purity
involved, or shall act as a broker in any of such transactions.
 The penalty of imprisonment ranging from twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years
and a fine ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who, unless authorized by law, shall sell, trade,
administer, dispense, deliver, give away to another, distribute, dispatch in transit or transport any
controlled precursor and essential chemical, or shall act as a broker in such transactions.
 If the sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution or transportation of any
dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical transpires within one hundred
(100) meters from the school, the maximum penalty shall be imposed in every case.
 For drug pushers who use minors or mentally incapacitated individuals as runners, couriers and
messengers, or in any other capacity directly connected to the dangerous drugs and/or controlled
precursors and essential chemical trade, the maximum penalty shall be imposed in every case.
 VII. Laws and Rules covering the Drug Trafficking
Section 11 of RA 9165
Possession of Dangerous Drugs. - The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from Five
hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any
person, who, unless authorized by law, shall possess any dangerous drug in the following quantities,
regardless of the degree of purity thereof:

 (1) 10 grams or more of opium;

 (2) 10 grams or more of morphine;
 (3) 10 grams or more of heroin;
 (4) 10 grams or more of cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride;
 (5) 50 grams or more of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu";
 (6) 10 grams or more of marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil;
 (7) 500 grams or more of marijuana; and
 (8) 10 grams or more of other dangerous drugs such as, but not limited to,
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDA) or "ecstasy", paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA),
trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA), lysergic acid diethylamine (LSD), gamma hydroxyamphetamine (GHB), and
those similarly designed or newly introduced drugs and their derivatives, without having any therapeutic
value or if the quantity possessed is far beyond therapeutic requirements, as determined and promulgated
by the Board in accordance to Section 93, Article XI of this Act.
 VIII. Conclusion

The underlying poverty crisis has lured Filipinos to take jobs

with high salaries despite the harm/consequences that it may bring
just to provide for themselves and their families. Because of these,
drug trafficking syndicates target Filipinos, usually OFWs, as drug
couriers in exchange for a huge amount of money, taking
advantage of the situation.

Syndicates like the ADS are well-organized, well-funded and

continue to expand. The drug courier problem is globally in scope
due to the syndicates vast connections and mobility, makes it hard
for law enforcement agencies to trace and apprehend members
and cohorts.
 IX. Recommendation

Concerned agencies and key sectors to intensify its anti-drug campaign

through
production of information education and communication materials
Media/Publicity plan development
continued conduct of lectures/seminars on anti-drug
Filipinos need to be aware and at the same time take a proactive stance
in sharing to others what they know about the issue.
Considering that other countries especially China, Indonesia and Saudi
Arabia impose very strict punishments to persons with drug-related cases,
information dissemination as a preventive measure is better than having to
provide legal and financial support to already arrested drug couriers which
in the end may prove futile once offender is proven guilty.
 IX. Recommendation

• The government to foster an active and strong cooperation with foreign

counterparts
• Strengthening of bilateral, regional and multilateral coordination
• Profiling and development of a comprehensive database on syndicates, and
monitoring of cases
• Tighter screening of visa applications of nationals who are known to be
involved in drug smuggling activities
• close monitoring and tracking down of activities of the abovementioned
nationals
• Sufficient administrative and financial support by the government to
concerned agencies
• Eradication of corruption on concerned agencies
End of Presentation……..

Thank you!!!