PDEA to determine narcopols’ role in drug smuggling through private ports

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will investigate whether the so-called narcopolitians are involved in the smuggling of illegal drugs through private airstrips and ports, which is dubbed the “newest modus operandi of drug syndicates.”

“Titingnan pa rin namin kung (We will investigate if) some narcopoliticians are included in this kind of modus,” PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in a chance interview Friday.

Aquino earlier said he wants the creation of an inter-agency drug interdiction task group to prevent drug smuggling in private ports.

“Before, drug trafficking organizations are shipping tons of illegal drugs, either the finished product or raw materials, through shipside smuggling in the high seas, airports, and seaports,” Aquino said in an earlier statement.

“But now, they have included in their itineraries unmanned landing strips and private ports as drug transit routes,” he said.

If finalized, Aquino said the task group will be composed of PDEA, Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, PNP Aviation Security Group, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Office for Transportation Security, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

He said this will help curb this manner of drug smuggling, as unmanned runways and private ports have become favorite landing spots for private airplanes, seaplanes, and even yachts, loaded with illegal drugs.

Aquino explained that international drug syndicates are capable of using private aircrafts, including helicopters and seaplanes, as well as boats and yachts as modes of transportation to ship drug contraband.

“Airstrips have no airport facilities that is why proper documentation of the name of the arriving passengers, cargo details, among others, remains a problem. There is also a possibility that foreign chemists flew in and out of the country via the backdoor using the runways and open seas,” he said.

The country has more than 1,200 private ports nationwide.

To curb drug smuggling through the ports and high seas, Aquino said PDEA has established seaport interdiction units assigned in 13 key seaports nationwide and has entered into agreements with the PPA, PCG, and MARINA to inspect all maritime transportation in private seaports in the country. (Editor: Eden Estopace)