Illegal drugs rising in Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Local authorities expressed concern over the significant increase in the supply of illegal drugs entering this city and being sold in its underground market, the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) said.

Eliseo Braganza, CADAC action officer, said that the local government and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency have observed a considerable increase in the volume of dangerous drugs being peddled in the city’s streets.

“We have already identified the areas where illegal drugs are abundant,” Braganza said. He hinted that these locations include the coastlines of Davao and the urban area where bars are thriving.

Braganza said that the city government is currently working on reducing the demand for illegal drugs while the PDEA is working with other government agencies to stop the supply.

The present increase in the supply of drugs in the city is attributed to small players and not to big syndicates.

“There are no ‘big fishes’ in Davao. It is clear is that there is no production here. The drugs coming in are carried by a few people who are considered as entrepreneurs,” Braganza said.

These suppliers, Braganza said, are importing drugs from Cotabato and Zamboanga and selling these in Davao because they have no other sources of income.

“Money is the great motivation behind these illegal activities,” said Braganza. “Most of these target markets are the growing population of yuppies and the students who are coming from the provinces to study in the city,” Braganza said.

A city ordinance mandating random drug tests in private companies operating in Davao is currently being pushed in the city council. – Rappler.com