TINUKOY ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) na ang notorious na Sam Gor, isang malawak na international crime syndicate, ang responsable sa paglutang ng isang toneladang shabu sa karagatang saklaw ng Zambales, Pangasinan at Ilocos Sur, na nabingwit ng mga mangingisda.

“Sam Gor is a five-drug triad alliance namely: the 14K, Bamboo Union, Big Circle Gang, Sun Yeen On, and Wo Shing Wo, whose leaders are based in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Their members simply called it “The Company,” pahayag ni PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez kahapon.

Ayon sa ulat, ang Sam Gor Group ay kumikilos sa iba’t ibang bansa sa Asia-Pacific Region, kabilang dito ang Pilipinas.

Sinasabing sangkot ang international drug syndicate sa trafficking ng methamphetamine, at pinaniniwalaang 40 hanggang 70 percent control ang drug market sa rehiyon at kumikita ng mahigit sa $17 billion kada taon.

Bukod sa shabu, ang sindikato ay sangkot ding sa pagsu-supply ng malaking volume ng heroin, ketamine, at iba pang synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals.

“Sam Gor is named after the nickname of its suspected founder/leader, ‘Tse Chi Lop’, a Chinese-Canadian who was arrested four years ago in The Netherlands and was eventually extradited to Australia in December 2022 to face drug trafficking charges. He is considered the Asia’s “El Chapo”.

“Based on the packaging of shabu packs recovered in Philippine shores, they were contained in tea bags with Chinese markings – a signature trademark associated with Sam Gor,” dagdag pa ni Undersecretary Nerez.

“Sam Gor gained notoriety by engaging in all sorts of unconventional methods of drug smuggling, including the use of the high seas. They dump their illicit goods to be retrieved later by contacting local cohorts. It’s a good thing that our hero fishermen got there first before the drugs fell into the wrong hands”, paliwanag ng opisyal.

Nabatid na umabot sa 1,038 kilos ng suspected shabu na nagkakahalaga ng P7,058,400,000, ang isinuko ng 56 mangingisda sa loob ng 40 turnover incidents.

Ang nabingwit na mga droga ay natagpuan sa coastal areas ng Dacap Sur, Bani; Boboy at Macaboboni, Agno; at Luciente I, Balingasay, Concordia at Poblacion, Bolinao—pawang nasa lalawigan ng Pangasinan, at Barangay Mantanas at Dili, Sta. Cruz, sa  Ilocos Sur.

May P1,514,054,000 halaga ng shabu ang natagpuan ng 10 mangingisda sa Bataan partikular sa Masinloc, Zambales.

“The President has spoken. PDEA will exert its utmost effort towards the prompt destruction of the illegal drugs and keep every Filipino out of harm’s way. We will pursue the key perpetrators behind this transnational crime as we remain vigilant not only in safeguarding our seas but also protecting our land and air from drug trafficking woes,” dagdag pa ng PDEA chief.

(JESSE KABEL RUIZ)