Shabu use on the rise in Philippines, neighboring countries

MANILA, Philippines—Drug abuse, specifically of “shabu” or metamphetamine hydrochloride, is on the rise in the Philippines and other countries in East and Southeast Asia, according to an international drug monitoring body.

In its 2011 Annual Report, the International Narcotics Control Board (ICNB) noted an increased level of drug trafficking through East and Southeast Asia by West African and Iranian organized criminal groups, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The INCB is an independent monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions.

INCB specifically noted that China (including Hong Kong), Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand reported trafficking in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine by traffickers with connections to organized trafficking groups from West Africa and Iran.

According to the report, those criminal groups established trafficking networks in Southeast Asia and usually employ drug couriers from Ghana, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand, the DFA added.

Thus, the INCB urged the governments of these countries “to devise appropriate and effective strategies to address the threats posed by trafficking in and abuse of methamphetamine and to strengthen regional cooperation in that regard.”

Just recently, a Kenyan woman was caught trying to smuggle nearly 10 kilograms of shabu into the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates.

Lina Aching Noah, 36, was arrested after customs inspectors found the illegal drugs, with a street value of about P45 million, in the lining of her luggage at the airport.

In December 2011, a 35-year-old man convicted of drug trafficking was executed in China. He was the fourth national from the Philippines to be put to death in China for peddling dangerous drugs.

Published reports said there were more than 200 Filipinos languishing in Chinese jails on drug-related charges.

They are part of what authorities have said is a growing trend of poor Filipinos targeted by international drug syndicates to transport their contraband around the world.