PDEA monitors coastal towns’ pols for cocaine smuggling

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is monitoring politicians in coastal towns in connection with cocaine smuggling.

“Nagtataka kami every now and then may smuggling... We are asking ourselves – are these politicians involved?” PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said in an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on Cignal TV’s One News on Tuesday.

Aquino cited certain areas in Bicol where cocaine bricks have been fished out.

“The bulk of cocaine smuggling is... in Region 5,“ he said.

Around 40 kilos of cocaine with an estimated value of P218 million were recovered in the waters off Gubat, Sorsogon in May. Cocaine bricks were also recovered off the coast of Camarines Norte, Albay and Catanduanes.

Almost 200 kilos of cocaine have been fished out in the waters off Davao Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Aurora as well as Dinagat and Siargao islands since February.

Aquino said  international drug syndicates are using coastal areas as transshipment point to avoid detection.

He said local politicians could be helping drug traffickers repack cocaine bricks.

“Definitely may mga na-i-involve na local officials dito sa atin,” Aquino said.