PNP will work ‘double time’ to recover MICP smuggled shabu — Albayalde

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Saturday said the PNP will work “double time” to recover the multi-billion worth of shabu that was smuggled in August through the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

“I think talagang kung nakalusot man yung ganong kalaking halaga or amount ng shabu, ay siguro kailangan nating mag double time na naman sa ating trabaho on anti illegal drugs o sa ating mga police operations natin para marecover yan,” Albayalde said in an interview with dzBB.

Albayalde was reacting to the reports that some of the recovered shabu during police operations came from the shabu smuggled through the MICP.

In August, operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) intercepted nearly 500 kilograms of suspected shabu in North Harbor port in Manila.

Authorities said that the estimated street value of the smuggled drugs is at P4.3 billion.

READ: BOC intercepts nearly 500 kilos of ‘shabu’ worth P4.3B

Following the interception of the multi-billion smuggled drugs, authorities found four empty magnetic lifters in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite that has an estimated value of P6.8 billion.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said that drugs found during the second incident were similar to the one seized at the MICP.

READ: BOC: 4 magnetic lifters in Cavite tested negative for shabu

According to Albayalde, the government should not only keep an eye on the BOC, but also on the possible shipments being smuggled through the ports.

With this, Albayalde said that the government is in full approach to prevent the entry of illegal drugs in the country in all possible ways.

“Ang approach natin sa illegal drugs ay full government approach,” he said. “Lahat po ng ahensya na involve sa law enforcement talagang dapat po magkaisa para mabantayan ng husto yung pagpasok ng ilegal na droga.”  /muf