The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has confirmed that the practice of recycling illegal drugs recovered from government operations is still prevalent.
The agency said seven ninja cops are involved in such practice.
In her exclusive report, UNTV Correspondent Lea Ylagan was able to obtain a list containing the names of the 13 original ninja cops with ranks ranging from patrolmen to police captains.
When President Rodrigo Duterte started his term in office and launched the extensive campaign against illegal drugs, said ninja cops were sent to Mindanao.
Two of them were ambushed by a riding-in-tandem in Cotabato which resulted in the death of one.
Others had gone AWOL, while some retired early.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino, however, reported that, to this day, seven ninja cops who are still in active service are in the practice of recycling recovered or confiscated illegal drugs, with the help of an alleged Drug Queen who is said to be holding a position in Manila.
“(There) are protectors, somehow helping the drug queen distribute drugs. Sila rin ang nagbebenta ng ilegal na droga. Minsan naman may mga asset din sila na nagbebenta ng ilegal na droga,” Aquino said.
The official added that these ninja cops do not only operate in Metro Manila but also in the provinces.
“Definitely bawat region ay may ninja cops. Merong mga tiwali. Even parts of Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon,” he added.
Aquino further said that the ninja cops would reduce in half the shabu that they confiscate in their anti-illegal drug operations and would pass it on to the said Drug Queen who will take care of the dispatching and selling to their customers.
“She is very powerful with connections with the law enforcement agency, sa mga pulitiko and I think naging politician din sya once. di ko lang alam kung gano katagal, pero naging politician din siya,” Aquino said.
The NBI, AIDSOTF and PDEA had numerously tried to conduct an operation against the said Drug Queen but she may had been given a heads up by the ninja cops, making her elude the arrest.
“About 4-5 buildings ang iki-clear namin e so malaki ang area. That’s the reason why we ask for operational assistant sa PNP at NBI. But unfortunately, there was a leak. In short, may ahas sa mga operatives naming. I don’t know kung sino, but it turned out to be a negative operation,” Aquino said.
A UNTV source said the original ninja cops come from the then-Western Police District (WPD), which is now called the Manila Police District (MPD).
They were called ninja cops because the vehicles they were using then in conducting drug operations were Kawasaki Ninja motorcycles, which had become their trademark of sort.
The source also said that aside from recycling illegal drugs, these ninja cops are also involved in “tutok-kalawit”, “Hulidap”, and “Bangketa” o the dropping of illegal drug-related cases.
These ninja cops were able to thrive for a long time because they were being coddled by a general and other high-ranking officials of the PNP in the past.
Aquino said his team is in the process of completing their report on the said Drug Queen and the seven ninja cops which they will submit to President Duterte within this week. (with details from Lea Ylagan) /mbmf
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