PDEA drug sniffing dogs foil

shabu thru ‘courier’ attempt

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Aug 19 (PIA) – No matter how hard would the authorities try, criminals would still find ways to get ahead, but not this time.

Drug sniffing dogs of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle some 50 grams of illegal drugs in what could be another proof that forwarding companies could be critical help in stopping the illegal trade from entering the island.

A modus which was exposed years ago after suspects confessed their illegal shipment comes conveniently in neat packages through cargo forwarding companies is now being used again.

In the new PDEA leadership under Intelligence Officer V Joseph Theodore Atilla, the incident would be his first.

Last August 21, at around 3:15 PM, PDEA operatives and its K9 unit conducted a routine random inspection on the parcels sent through a forwarding company’ branch in Poblacion 2, Tagbilaran City.

Led and supervised by Atilla, the team coordinated with the forwarding company to check on contraband and illegal drugs possibly hidden in the parcels.

Not two weeks ago, in another incident, somebody sent to their relatives in Bohol some cooked pork, as a traditional “bringhouse,” and got away with it, despite banning pork from outside Bohol to come in.

At one time during the inspection, PDEA dogs NDD Uno and Hyper showed signs that one of the parcels could contain dangerous drugs.

In the presence of prescribed witnesses, the authorities opened the suspicious parcel, and upon inspection, found a pack of around 50 grams of suspected shabu concealed inside a blue belt bag.

According to Atilla, in radio interviews, the parcel came from Iligan and they have investigated the consignee and sender, for the questioned items.

Valued at P340,000.00, the haul is the first and biggest yet that PDEA Bohol confiscated from a courier.

The incident also shows how Bohol is still beset with the problem of illegal drugs in Bohol.

At the joint online Provincial Peace and Order Council, anti-drug abuse council and ELCAC meeting, Camp Dagohoy said they were able to confiscate 1,071.83 grams of illegal drugs from 147 operations beginning January to April 2021.

The biggest bulk of confiscated drugs came in March from 1-31 when, in 45 operations, narcotics agents confiscated 738.89 grams of meth substances believed to be shabu.

The month summed up a total of P5,024,452 of drugs based on the Dangerous Drugs Board value. These were in 45 operations and arresting 47 suspected persons.

In February, PDEA also netted a total of P1,242,884.00 from its 44 operations and arresting 48 suspects.

In January, from 23 operations and after arresting 28 suspects, PDEA confiscated some 76.55 grams off substances believed to be shabu and with a street value of P510,540.00.

In April, PDEA operatives confiscated 73.76 grams of shabu valued at P501,568.00 after 35 operations and arresting 37 suspects. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

SNIFFED AND TALLIED. PDEA operatives and their drug sniffing dogs inventory the drugs confiscated from the cargo forwarding company, after a random K9 inspection last week. (PDEA Bohol)