(DDB PHOTO)

The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) met with other law enforcement agencies to address the country’s pressing issues regarding illegal drug supply reduction in airport, land, and maritime entry points.

In a statement, the DDB cited the importance of the collaboration with the recent multi-billion illegal drug trade incidents in the coastal areas of the country.

The meeting gathered key officials from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) to align strategic countermeasures and establish a unified approach to strengthening border control, dismantling trafficking networks, and intercepting supply routes used for drug smuggling and trades.

During the meeting, the DDB noted that the discussion led to pivotal agreements focusing on empowering the local government units (LGUs), enhancing policy development, and strengthening monitoring and reporting mechanisms to curb illegal drug trafficking.

"This coordinated response reflects the government's firm resolve to protect national borders and uphold security," the DDB stated.

Further, the DDB stressed that strengthened collaboration and clear operational direction are key to advancing sustainable drug supply reduction efforts.

The PDEA tagged the  international crime syndicate “Sam Gor” as the group behind the multi-billion peso worth of shabu found in the waters of Zambales, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Sur in recent weeks.

PDEA Director General Isagani R. Nerez said Sam Gor is a "five-drug triad alliance" composed of  the “14K, Bamboo Union, Big Circle Gang, Sun Yeen On, and Wo Shing Wo, whose leaders are based in Hongkong and Taiwan."

He noted that the members of the syndicate simply refer to it as “The Company."

Citing intelligence reports, Nerez said that the "Sam Gor Group" operates in various countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines. 

The PDEA also explained that the syndicate is largely involved in trafficking methamphetamine and is believed to have an estimated 40 to 70 percent control of the drug market in the region, raking up profits up to more than $17billion in revenue a year.

Sowing courage and vigilance, 56 local fishermen have already surrendered a total of 1,038 kilos of suspected shabu worth P7,058,400,000 in 40 turnover incidents to authorities as of June 9, marking one of the country’s largest maritime seizures of illegal drugs in recent years.

The shabu packs were found washed ashore in the coastal areas of Dacap Sur, Bani; Boboy and Macaboboni, Agno; and Luciente I, Balingasay, Concordia and Poblacion, Bolinao—all located in the province of Pangasinan and Barangay Mantanas and Dili, Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur.

P1,514,054,000 worth of shabu found by 10 Bataan fishers off the waters of Masinloc, Zambales, were also surrendered to authorities on June 2.