Int'l drug syndicate behind shabu dumping in Phl

An international drug syndicate based in the Asia-Pacific region is responsible for the nearly 1.3 tons of shabu valued at P8.81 billion that have been found floating in the waters off Zambales, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said yesterday.

- — Emmanuel Tupas, Artemio Dumlao

PDEA chief Isagani Nerez identified the syndicate as Sam Gor, an alliance of five drug triads: 14K, Bamboo Union, Big Circle Gang, Sun Yeen On and Wo Shing Wo.

The PDEA said the leaders of Sam Gor, also known as "The Company," are based in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Nerez said the group is named after Tse Chi Lop, a Chinese-Canadian who was arrested in 2022 in the Netherlands and was extradited to Australia to face drug trafficking charges.

Tse is considered Asia's El Chapo, the PDEA said.