BOC, PDEA tie up with Fujian agency vs drugs

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency have agreed to share information and technology with the Fujian Provincial Drug Enforcement Agency of China in a bid to stop smuggling of illegal drugs into the Philippines.

Officials of the two Philippine government agencies met last Tuesday with China’s Narcotics Control Commission Deputy Director of Operation Division Shen Yu to discuss how to coordinate and better detect and stop contraband shipments. 

“(The meeting) will be the start of the interaction and engagement of the customs of China and of Philippines,” BOC Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service director Neil Anthony Estrella said.

The Philippines and China have agreed to enhance exchange of intelligence and technology in fighting drug crimes, including the training of operatives and techniques in detecting illegal drugs.

Yu said the meeting was the product of the recent agreement and memorandum of understanding signed by President Duterte with China during his four-day state visit to Beijing last Oct. 18 to 21. The MOU, he noted, is supportive of the Philippine government’s efforts to fight illegal drugs.

“We have come to our new relationship after President Duterte visited China,” Yu said. “We can discuss how to enhance cooperation in terms of narcotics control between our nations.” 

“We can establish a specific office or person to act as a liaison officer of the Narcotics Commission of China,” Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Group Ariel Nepomuceno said. “You can expect BOC’s full cooperation because this is our priority – to end illegal drugs smuggling.”

According to reports from the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force for 2016, the BOC intercepted a total of 30 illegal drug shipments worth over P337 million.

Of these shipments, 14 were of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu, amounting to P30 million. Five shipments were of ecstasy valued at P15 million-plus. Nine shipments were of cocaine pegged at close to P292 million, and one shipment was of marijuana worth about P25,520.

Illegal drugs are usually transported to the country via fishing vessels.

One of BOC’s recent operations was issuing a warrant of seizure and detention of 320 drums of imported hydrochloric acid, a precursor in manufacturing shabu, last Feb. 17. The contraband arrived at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT), Tagoloan Sub-port, Cagayan de Oro last January and was valued at P569,826.40.