Anti-illegal drugs drive in Boracay intensified

BORACAY IS., AKLAN, Philippines  – The Task Force Boracay has intensified its operation against illegal drugs in this resort island following reports from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 6 about lucrative illegal trade among drug pushers and users here.

The PDEA-6 had arrested recently in Kalibo, Aklan a suspected drug pusher who confessed that illegal drugs come to this resort island from Manila through the use of a forwarding service.

There were intelligence reports reaching PDEA-6 long before that drug syndicates were using forwarding services to transport illegal drugs to the island, but the agency found it difficult to trace the suspects.

This prompted PDEA-6 to coordinate now with the Philippine Postal Corporation toward the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to ensure that illegal drugs trade could not be transmitted through parcel services.

Niven Maquirang, administrator of the Caticlan Jetty Port and a member of the task force said they will be strictly inspecting all packages being delivered to this resort island.

The Caticlan Jetty port is the key entry and exit points of tourists coming to and from this resort island, and Maquirang said a service desk had been deployed to Caticlan also to check on tourists entering Boracay.

The Task Force consists of the Aklan provincial government, the Malay town government, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, among others. – (FREEMAN)