PDEA-Region 2 ups stiffer drug checks at airport, seaport

PDEA agents  tighten security at sea and airports in Region 2.  

By Liezle Basa-Inigo

TUGUEGARAO CITY—-The newly installed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 2 director is working hard to stop entry of illegal drugs into the Cagayan Valley region as they also intensified airport and seaport operations.

Earlier, PDEA Regional Office 2 (RO2) personnel and K9 units led by Investigation Agent Emmanuel Pascual conducted an airport interdiction operation at the Tuguegarao City Domestic Airport.

A random K9 sweeping was conducted by narcotics detection dogs (NDDs) “Venus” and “Sack,” and passenger profiling was done on North Sky Air Flight Number RP-C8825 of four passengers with one cargo outbound from Tuguegarao City Domestic Airport to Batanes Airport.

Joint personnel of the PDEA RO2 Seaport Interdiction Unit and Bureau of Customs also conducted boarding formalities and an interdiction operation thru K9 paneling by NDDs “Joan” and “Brixx” on the MV Ashico Victoria docked at Port Irene, Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

“Even in the midst of this pandemic,we assure the public that PDEA is always on guard by keeping the Cagayanos safe against illegal drug use and abuse,” Director Joel Balingan Plaza said.

“Ang purpose po para walang illegal drugs na pwedeng pumasok o ilabas po through these entry and exit points po (The purpose [for these operations] is so that no illegal drugs can be brought in or out through these entry and exit points),” a PDEA staffer said.

In a meeting with Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson P. Soriano, Plaza shared his plans and programs, giving emphasis on clearing all drug-affected barangays in the region, not only to reduce the supply of illegal drugs but to provide a long-term and sustainable solution to the drug problem.