National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) lawyer Atty. Ross Jonathan Galicia said the 521 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, seized in Laos could have been consumed by more than half a million Filipinos in a single day had the illegal drugs reached the Philippines.
Speaking during a House Committee on Dangerous Drugs hearing, Galicia said the volume of the seized contraband suggests the involvement of an organized group and a distribution network operating in the country.
“The volume of the illegal drug says that's 521 kilos. It's more than half a ton. It would take a number of people to move this illegal drug,” Galicia said.
He added that the quantity points to a possible local crime group and a substantial domestic market for illegal drugs.
“So that means we're dealing with a group of people and we're dealing with a network, a distribution network in the country. There is a local crime group that is operating within the country,” he said.
Galicia also stressed that the Philippines was the intended destination of the shipment, indicating the scale of the potential market for the illegal drugs.
He cited an estimated 1.7 million drug users in the country, noting that authorities would need to conduct another survey to determine whether the figure has decreased.
“Because 512 kilos, it can be consumed by more than half a million Filipinos in a day,” Galicia said, referring to the potential impact had the shipment reached the country.
The NBI official's remarks underscore the potential scale of the illegal drug trade and the need to investigate the individuals and networks that may have been involved in the shipment.
