PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino says a ‘drug queen’ with powerful connections in government is behind transactions of so-called ninja cops who allegedly recycle drug evidence. (PIA photo)

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino says a ‘drug queen’ is behind transactions of so-called ninja cops who are allegedly involved in the recycling of drug evidence.

Aquino adds the drug queen’s weekly transactions are worth more than 20 million pesos. He refused to name the drug queen, saying only that she has connections with many politicians.

“Umabot na ng more than P1B worth ang kanyang kinita sa droga. Yung relatives nila involved sa illegal drugs, meron siyang mga kapatid, relatives na pulis (politician?) meron din.” Aquino said.

Aquino is also looking into the drug queen’s connection to drug lords at the state penitentiary.

Aquino earlier said the recycling of illegal drugs is still rampant in the Philippine National Police. 

Metro Manila’s top cop Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar earlier slammed Aquino for his claims during a Senate hearing saying the PNP had been targeting rogue cops as part of its internal cleansing.

“We appreciate the support that the PDEA has given us in our joint operations against illegal drugs. However, with all due respect, I cannot agree completely with PDEA Director Aaron Aquino’s statement in the Senate hearing yesterday (Monday) that the main reason illegal drugs still proliferate is primarily due to the recycling of drugs by policemen themselves,” Eleazar said.

PDEA showed its evidence room where almost 3,000 kilograms of illegal drugs worth more than 20 billion pesos are kept and awaits pending court orders for destruction.

Yung safeguards bago kayo makapasok rito, it’s so secured na kahit mag-attempt kayo magnakaw o kung ano gawin niyo rito sa loob definitely hindi kayo makakapasok, the possibility of recycling drugs is none, zero. Aquino said. (Jasper Camilo)