PNP chief: Quick profit, big supply of ‘shabu’ draw Pinoys to drug trade

The desire for “easy money” is seen as the reason why a lot of Filipinos have turned to the illegal drugs trade even if they either get killed or arrested in the nearly two years since the Duterte administration waged its war on drugs.

Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said those who want to make a quick profit, even double their money, area easily drawn to dealing drugs like “shabu.”

“In illegal drugs activities, even a small investment like R2,000 or R5,000 promise to have a double or even triple earnings. That’s the first reason we see why there are still a lot of street pushers despite our accomplishments, our efforts on illegal drugs,” said Albayalde.

Street pushers are usually capable of easily dispensing five to 10 grams of shabu and since the profits are big and quick, some people find the business opportunity quite irresistible, he said.

Another reason, he said, is that there are still a lot of drugs that flood the supply system for street drug pushers.

Albayalde believes this is because there is still a huge stockpile of illegal drugs that might have been smuggled into the country in the past.

“Maybe there are still stocks in the country. Remember, there were illegal drugs which were smuggled in the country like that one in Valenzuela City,” said Albayalde.

The official was referring to the 650 kilos of shabu which was smuggled into the country with the help of erring officials from the Bureau of Customs.

“And we still do not know if there are a lot of stocks that were smuggled in the country even before that,” said Albayalde.