CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 is intensifying its monitoring on the smuggling of ecstasy in Central Visayas.
This after law enforcement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) intercepted a parcel that was declared as dog and cat food, but turned out to be 40,000 tablets of the party drug ecstasy worth about P70 million.
According to Intelligence Agent III Jonar Cuayzon, leader of the Intelligence and Investigation Section of PDEA-7, this type of drug is a real challenge for law enforcers because it is not the same as shabu, which is more well known in the streets.
“Kana siya gud limited ang iyahang network, na limited siya didto sa mga upper class nga mga tawo mao na ang ato pud dapat informant ana mostly kato pud naa ra sa ilang circle which is naglisod ta og recruit ani nila kay unsa may i-offer sa law enforcement nila. They need money? Naa man sila’y kwarta, unsaon man nato pag encourage nila nga mo report,” Cuayzon said.
“Unya dili siya ingon nga lantaran gyud nga ibaligya og asa dapit then naa silay usually naka hub sila exclusive subdivision, condominiums nga naay mga security protocols nga gina enforce diha nga maglisod gyud ta basta-basta og sulod anang establishment,”he added.
However, Cuayzon said that law enforcement agencies in Central Visayas will continue to work together to prevent the proliferation of ecstasy in the region, especially now that tourism is active and parties are organized where some drugs are sold.
According to PDEA-7, ecstasy can be bought at P1,800 each. The tablet reportedly is cut in half to give to others before drinking it.
PDEA-7 is also monitoring social media sites as some transactions are now done online. ATO (CEBU NEWS)