PDEA, Customs to improve coordination in fight vs drugs

MANILA, Philippines — Following the issue on the shabu that went missing after it was seized at port last year, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have agreed to have better coordination in the fight against illegal drugs.

The two agencies came up with a “stronger” memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will allow PDEA more extensive powers over the country’s ports and become the custodian of all seized illegal drugs.

“With this MOA, I can assure you that no more drugs will enter the country,” said PDEA director general Aaron Aquino during a ceremonial signing yesterday.

He pointed out his agency previously has a very limited working function with the BOC, but that this would change as the agreement allows PDEA agents an expanded presence in the ports and enhanced “working capability” with the customs office.

The new MOA amends the previous agreement signed by the two agencies on Sept. 10. It grants PDEA the custody of seized illegal drugs, deputizes its personnel to join BOC operations and grants agents the authority to conduct random searches on vessels.

Both agencies agreed to create a drug interdiction task group that will be under BOC control, although operational supervision would be shared by their respective chiefs, supposedly for better information sharing. 

BOC Commissioner Leonardo Guerrero said that they realize the PDEA’s role as the lead agency in the war against drugs following an incident where two shabu shipments – worth P6.4 billion in 2017 and P11 billion – slipped through the BOC last year.

Two former heads of the BOC have found themselves embroiled in the incidents. More recently, former BOC commissioner Isidro Lapeña, who also used to head PDEA, was charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the Department of Justice over the P2.4-billion shabu found at the Manila port and another for the empty lifters that allegedly contained P11 billion worth of shabu.

Guerrero said the filing of charges against Lapeña by the NBI would help “keep the BOC on its toes” in the fight against illegal drugs. 

“It reminds us that we have to be very careful against smuggling and illegal drugs,” Guerrero added during the briefing.