Philippines: Illegal activities undertaken by the Hong Kong Triads and 14kts; whether there is state protection available to citizens who are approached to assist the triads in these activities, particularly bank fraud
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 13 January 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PHL40786.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Philippines: Illegal activities undertaken by the Hong Kong Triads and 14kts; whether there is state protection available to citizens who are approached to assist the triads in these activities, particularly bank fraud, 13 January 2003, PHL40786.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4dfbe.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Numerous articles name the Hong Kong Triad in connection to the trafficking of the drug shabu (mathamphetamine hydrochloride), the "'poor man's cocaine'" (Philippine Daily Inquirer 15 Aug. 2001), in the Philippines (ibid. 6 Nov. 2002; ibid. 10 Sept. 2001; ibid. 15 Nov. 2001; ibid. 26 Aug. 2000; ibid. 29 Jul. 2000).
A 1 November 2002 raid on a shabu laboratory in Paranaque City, Rizal, was reported to have "crippled the operations" of the Hong Kong Triad in Metro Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer 6 Nov. 2002). In referring to the raid, the Southern Police District director stated that the Hong Kong Triad was believed to be behind the laboratory as the chemicals seized were not locally produced (ibid.).
Three articles reported on the seizure of large quantities of shabu believed to have been brought into the country by the Hong Kong Triad (ibid. 5 Nov. 2001; ibid. 29 July 2000; ibid. 26 Aug. 2000). Reporting on the seizure, the 26 August 2000 article stated that Triad criminal groups in Hong Kong were apparently no longer employing Filipinos as their local couriers, but were instead using mainly jobless Chinese (ibid.).
Reporting on allegations made by a civilian agent used by the police to infiltrate the Hong Kong Triad, several articles make reference to possible police involvement with the Hong Kong Triad and drug trafficking in the Philippines (ibid. 31 Aug. 2001; ibid. 4 Sept. 2001; GMA 7 Television 3 Sept. 2001). The agent reportedly stated that the Triad brought in thousands of kilograms of illegal drugs that police officials then sold to Chinese drug lords in the Philippines (Philippine Daily Inquirer 31 Aug. 2001). Philippine National Police (PNP) officials strongly denied these allegations (ibid.).
In conjunction with announcing that the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) would be investigating the "allegation that foreign-based drug syndicates had infiltrated several government agencies," the Presidential Spokesperson warned government employees that they faced "suspension on [the] mere suspicion of involvement in facilitating the entry of illegal drugs" into the Philippines (ibid. 7 Sept. 2001).
Regarding the Triad's involvement in other illegal activities, an October 2002 article reported that the government was investigating the possible involvement of the Hong Kong Triad in the rising piracy rate in the movie and software industries in the Philippines (Philippine Daily Inquirer 15 Oct. 2002). The Videogram Regulatory Board, a governmental organization charged with curbing video piracy, stated that they believed that organized crime groups were assisting illegal disc makers, "particularly in the purchase of replicating machines" (ibid.).
No reference to the Hong Kong Triad's involvement in any further illegal activities, including bank fraud, in the Philippines, or to the state protection available to those citizens approached to assist the Triads, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
While no reference could be found to a group call 14kts, one article was found to the operation of group called the 14K Triad in the Philippines (Philippine Daily Inquirer 30 Aug. 2001). The 30 August 2001 article reported that the 14K is thought to be "a major source of illegal drugs for the Philippines" (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
GMA 7 Television [Quezon City, in Tagalog]. 3 September 2001. "Ex-Police Agent Shows Drug Flow From HK Triad to Police." (FBIS-EAS-2001-0903 3 Sept. 2001/WNC)
Philippine Daily Inquirer [Manila]. 6 November 2002. Christian V. Esguerra. "Shabu Lab Raid Crippled Drug Ring, Police Say." _____. 15 October 2002. "International Crime Groups Seen Behind Piracy in RP." _____. 15 November 2001. Tonette Orejas and Cesar Villa. "Shabu Worth P668M Seized." _____. 10 September 2001. Kathy I. Navarro. "Three 'High-Level' Drug Suspects Arrested in Cebu." _____. 7 September 2001. Martin P. Marfil. "Philippine Government Employees Warned of Suspension Over Drug Links." (FBIS-EAS-2001-0907 7 Sept. 2001/WNC)
_____. 4 September 2001. Christine Avendano and Armand N. Nocum. "Ex-Narcotics Civilian Agenct Links Filipino Senator to Murder, Other Crimes." (FBIS-EAS-2001-0904 4 Sept. 2001/WNC)
_____. 31 August 2001. "Spokesman Says Arroyo 'Has Full Confidence' in Police's Overall Integrity." (FBIS-EAS-2001-0831 31 Aug. 2001/WNC)
_____. 30 August 2001. "Ex-Narcotics Spy Chief Admits 'Rosebud' Link." _____. 15 August 2001. "Cops Arrest 2 Suspected Members of HK Triad." _____. 26 August 2000. Arnel Avila. "Quezon Provincial Police Make 'Biggest' Haul of 'Shabu,' Arrest 6 Chinese." (FBIS-CHI-2000-0826 26 Aug. 2000/WNC)
_____. 29 July 2000. Dave M. Veridiano. "Philippine Police Seize Year's Biggest Drug Haul." (FBIS-EAS-2000-072929 Jul. 2000/WNC)
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
NEXIS
Internet sites, including:
Asia Times
BBC
CNN
Philippine Headline News
The Visayan Daily Star
Search engine:
Google
