CLARK FREEPORT — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency admitted an increase in trafficking of illegal drugs activities using domestic and international airports and seaports — around 775 percent, an all time record high compared to four incidences in 2017 and 35 in 2018.
PDEA Director General Usec. Aaron Aquino said some airports and seaports are vulnerable to illegal drugs smuggling. He did not mention the places where prohibited substances are being sneaked into the country often, but he cited the government’s sincere efforts to stop the trafficking activities by establishing 18 special units to monitor the arrival of mails and parcels from abroad.
“PDEA remains vigilant to ensure packages containing illegal drugs are intercepted and kept from being delivered,” said Aquino in a statement, as he expressed thanks to courier service firms for being cooperative to the government’s campaign against the prohibited substance.
Since the interdiction operations were enforced in airports and seaports, Aquino said a total of 94.67 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), 16,713 pieces of party drugs and 1,109.5 grams of high-grade marijuana (Kush) with an estimated street value of P672,161,997.88 million were seized. He said said scores of consignees had been arrested.
“Out of the interdiction operations conducted, 31 were interception of packages containing illegal drugs that originated from California, USA,” Aquino noted.
Aquino attributed the increase in the interception of drug-laden parcels to the enhanced capability of PDEA personnel to detect them.
On Wednesday (Jan 16) Aquino presented to media some P160-million worth of illegal drugs intercepted at the Clark International Airport (CRK) courier services firm warehouse. The items were neatly stuffed in boxes declared as canned goods and clothings.
PDEA agents assigned in the airports and seaports have undergone X-ray cargo screening training conducted by the Office of the Transportation Security (OTS). “They regularly conduct K9 sweeping and parcel screening on all cargo terminals nationwide,”said Aquino.-Jess Malabanan