PDEA to intensify presence in country’s seaports

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino (File photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will be deploying 110 newly trained anti-illegal drugs agents in seaports across the country to intensify the government’s campaign against smuggling of narcotics into the country.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said that the 110 PDEA operatives will be deployed to monitor 13 key seaports and 1,200 private seaports nationwide to monitor cargoes entering the country.

“(They) will also sit beside x-ray technicians of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to help in the detection of smuggled illegal drugs,” Aquino said in a statement on Wednesday.

Aquino said the deployment would be a “big boost” in the government’s intensified anti-drug campaign, particularly in seaports where “bulk of illegal drugs” are passing through.

The PDEA chief said the deployment was part of the memorandum of agreement with the Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Ports Authority.

“They will be our new eyes and ears against (illegal) drugs syndicates who take advantage of the country’s porous shoreline which serves as entry and exit points of illegal drugs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aquino said 16 other newly graduated PDEA agents have been assigned to the agency’s Financial Investigation Unit to assist in tracking drug money trail and possible money laundering activities.

The graduates belonged to the Drug Enforcement Officers’ Basic Course Class 2017-10, dubbed as “Maragtala” of the PDEA Academy.

Aquino said the graduates were conferred with badges during graduation rites held at the PDEA Academy at Camp Castaňeda, Silang, Cavite on Dec. 12. /jpv

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