ILOILO City – To curb drug smuggling through the ports and high seas, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas is taking proactive measures in various entry and exit points in the region.
The PDEA established seaport interdiction units assigned in key seaports in the region and has entered into agreements with the sea authorities that empowered the inspection of all maritime transportation.
On Aug. 29, PDEA conducted random paneling and profiling of passengers at the Iloilo Fast Craft Terminal located in Barangay Progreso, Lapuz district.
Meanwhile in Bacolod City, PDEA K9 and airport interdiction unit conducted a random security and sweeping operations at cargo warehouse and baggage conveyors Bacolod-Silay International Airport Silay City, Negros Occidental.
PDEA national director General Aaron Aquino, said unmanned runways and private ports have become favorite landing spots for private airplanes, seaplanes and even yachts, loaded with bulk of illegal drugs.
The country has more than 1,200 private ports.
The antidrug agency is pushing for the establishment of an inter-agency drug interdiction task group to synchronize efforts in sealing off possible smuggling points in the region, particularly the privately-run airstrips, heliports and seaports./PN