BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Occidental ramped up security in the province’s main ports of entry after Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents seized a Bacolod-bound shipment of shabu worth P34 million Friday last week in Escalante City.
PCG-Negros Occidental chief Commander Joe Luviz Mercurio said the BREDCO and Banago ports in Bacolod City, the Danao and Barcelona Ports in Escalante City, and the San Carlos City port now have narcotic detection dogs.
The K-9 units are checking all vehicles entering these ports in coordination with PDEA and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO).
Although the PCG does not have enough sniffer dogs, Mercurio said they can still effectively utilize them alongside dogs trained to detect explosives.
Earlier on Friday, PDEA agents arrested Vicente Sepuesca during a buy-bust operation in Escalante City’s Barangay Old Poblacion.
Based on new information released by both PDEA and the PCG, it was confirmed that Sepuesca did originate from Tabuelan port in Cebu.
A total of five bags of shabu valued at P34 million was seized in the operation – the biggest drug seizure so far in Western Visayas this year./PN
