U.S. conducts specialized trainings for PHL Law Enforcement Agencies

MANILA — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines is currently conducting training courses on science-driven drug investigations and substance abuse prevention for Philippine law enforcement agencies in Quezon City.

The first course, provided to 40 members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), is a 5-day training on chemical diversion investigations.

The course, which runs from February 3 to 7, introduces participants to techniques used in the identification, investigation, and dismantling of pharmaceutical traffickers and illicit precursor chemical suppliers/distributors used in the production of illicit drugs.

It also includes discussion of drug manufacturing, chemical toxicology, diversion investigative and audit techniques, pharmaceutical trafficking, and international controlled deliveries.

Led by experts from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration International Training Section, the course is designed to provide PDEA with techniques to safely conduct precursor chemical investigations.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) have collaborated with PDEA since 2013 in combatting international narcotics trafficking at airports and now seaports throughout the Philippines.

The second course, which runs from February 3 to 13, is the final session of a specialized training on substance abuse prevention for Philippine law enforcers.

The course is being conducted by INL in partnership with the PDEA and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Through this three-year initiative implemented by the Sri Lanka-based Colombo Plan, INL has conducted eight sessions of substance abuse awareness training for more than 200 members of law enforcement since April 2018.

The participants include law enforcement officials from Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

For this final iteration, 28 representatives from the PNP, PDEA, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Public Safety College and the Davao Anti-drug Abuse Council are participating in the 10-day training.

The course enhances the understanding of the participants on the multi-factorial nature of substance use and how the criminal justice system can provide community-based support to people with substance use disorders.

“This course totally changed my perspective toward substance use disorders and treatment.  I had to unlearn old mindsets and learn new, valuable concepts essential to my work and future personal endeavors.  On behalf of my agency, PDEA, I thank you very much for offering this training to us.  Looking forward to more advanced trainings and working with you on matters of mutual interests,” a previous course participant shared.

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines continues to work with the Philippine government, NGOs, and the private sector to enhance drug demand reduction programs including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery.

Learn more about U.S. Department of State counter narcotics programs at https://www.state.gov/addressing-illicit-drug-challenges/.