US donates P3.5M worth of drug detection gear

MANILA, Philippines — The US government recently donated over P3.5 million ($70,000) worth of drug detection and analysis equipment to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) K9 Force in support of US-Philippine cooperation to counter maritime crimes.

The donation included two handheld drug analyzers and 15 telescopic camera (borescope) detection units for distribution to various PCG field units throughout the Philippines, the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement.

The equipment was the second donation of drug detection equipment to the K9 Force by the embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

—TINA G. SANTOS