PDEA urged to check hangars for drug trafficking

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has been asked to monitor private hangars, saying they may be used by drug rings in their illegal trade.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers sought to regulate the use of private planes amid reports that drug traffickers were using aircraft to transport the contraband.

 Barbers cited the case of slain Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, who used planes to smuggle drugs out of Colombia and Mexico.

“We should have strict control on private planes. In fact, there is no PDEA presence at private hangars. If traffickers transport drugs on planes, nobody can check,” Barbers said.

Barbers, who chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs, issued the statement following reports that traffickers have resorted to using transport network vehicles (TNVs) such as Grab and Uber to deliver drugs.

Jovet Atillano, 32, an alleged drug dealer, was arrested during an anti-narcotics operation in Mandaluyong City in September.

Atillano allegedly hired drivers of TNVs in delivering illegal drugs to his customers.

Barbers and other congressmen vowed to allocate funds to the PDEA, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and Department of Information and Communications Technology to support the campaign against illegal drugs.

He said law enforcement agencies should double their efforts in running after drug traffickers.

“Drug lords have become bolder and tech-savvy. They are using the Internet in their illegal activities,” he said.