PDEA tightens sweeping operations in air, sea ports

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Negros Occidental is intensifying its sweeping operations in airport, sea ports, and bus terminals here and in the province to prevent entry of illegal drugs.

PDEA-Negros Occidental head Nicolas Gomez told Daily Guardian yesterday that a K9 narco-detection dog will be placed at the in-bound area of Bacolod-Silay International Airport to conduct paneling and random inspection of packages from courier services.

Gomez said one of their priority areas is the cargo warehouses since there was a previous seizure of narcotics sent through a courier service.

Some of the arrested drug suspects also claimed to have received the contraband in the same manner, he added.

The operation is in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Office for Transportation Security (OTS), and Aviation Security Unit.

Gomez said the airport has K9 dogs but it’s more trained on detection of explosives.

Gomez also said that K9 dogs will be placed at the sea ports in Banago, Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco), and San Carlos City, and bus terminals here.

He said they will also tap the Philippine Coast Guard for the conduct of the inspection in sea ports while the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the bus company will also provide assistance to them in the terminals.

“This is more of a preventive measure to deter possible entry of narcotics in the province,” Gomez said.

The K9 dogs were among the seven additional dogs received by the regional office last month.

Gomez said two of the three K9 dogs provided for the province already arrived here.