More Drug Traffickers Use Mail To Transport Illicit Drugs To Philippines

The Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday said it has noted a significant increase in the number of incidence of trafficking of illicit drugs using mail and parcel courier services.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said that in 2018 his office recorded a total of 35 incidences involving foreign express delivery and domestic courier services transporting illicit drugs, an increase of 775 per cent from the four incidences recorded in 2017.

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Aquino said 672 million pesos (roughly 13 million dollars) worth of illegal drugs, including 94.67 kilos of methamphetamine hydro-chloride, 16,713 ecstasy tablets and 1,109.5 grammes of marijuana Kush sent through foreign and domestic courier services, were intercepted in 2018.

Aquino, also said PDEA also arrested a total of 1,612 high-value targets in 2018, among them 43 government employees, 57 elected officials, 15 uniformed personnel as well as 53 foreigners.

“Smuggling of dangerous drugs through courier services is one of the means used by drug syndicates to ensure the supply of illegal drugs in the country,” he said.

Aquino said out of the interdiction operations conducted 27 were interception of packages containing illegal drugs that originated from California, the U.S.

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“The PDEA established three Airport Interdiction Units, three International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Groups, and twelve Seaport Interdiction Units in its regional office.

“They were all established in order to address drug smuggling using vulnerable seaports and airports in the country,’’ he added.

Since 2015, Aquino said the total estimated market value of illegal drugs concealed inside packages that were intercepted by PDEA, with the support of local law enforcement agencies and foreign counterparts, amounted to 966.3 million pesos (roughly 19 million dollars).

“PDEA remains vigilant to ensure packages containing illegal drugs are intercepted and kept from being delivered,’’ Aquino said.

 

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