IBINUNYAG ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) na ang notorious Sam Gor, isang malawak na na international crime syndicate, ang siyang responsable sa paglutang ng may isang toneladang shabu na nabingwit ng mga mangingisda. sa karagatang saklaw ng Zambales, Pangasinan at Ilocos Sur.
“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 Hongkong 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 ibat- ibang bansa sa Asia-Pacific Region,kabilang dito ang Pilipinas .
Sinasabing sangkot ang international drug syndicate sa trafficking ng methamphetamine, at pinaniniwalaang may 40 hanggang 70 percent control ng drug market sa rehiyon at kumikita ng mahigit sa $17billion kada taon.
Bukod sa shabu, ang sindikato ay sangkot ding sa pagsusupply 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 teabags 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 contact 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 umaabot sa 1,038 kilos ng suspected shabu na nagkakahalaga ng P7,058,400,000 ang isinuko ng may 56 mangingisda sa loob ng 40 turnover incidents.
Ang mga nabingwit na 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 mga 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”, ani PDEA Chief.
