PDEA, CAAP to create anti-drug smuggling task group in airports

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Monday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the creation of an Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (Airport-IADITG).

“As we signed the agreement, we have again shown to the local and international community the closer working relationship among the member-agencies with interrelated mandates concerned with the safety and security of the country’s airports from illegal drugs,” PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac, Jr. said.

The MOA mandates all contracting parties to cooperate and coordinate with each other to control the entry and exit of illegal drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals through the airports.

Consigning parties are also required to provide support to the Airport-IADITG by timely exchange and dissemination of intelligence, maintenance and operation of the administrative and operations hub of the anti-illegal drug smuggling task group, Airport-IADITG Operations Center.

Based on the signed MOA, the creation of the Airport-IADITG for all airports shall be under the control and jurisdiction CAAP and shall be lead by PDEA.

The MOA indicates that PDEA shall serve as the commander and executive officer of the Airport-IADITG, through the director general. PDEA shall also take the lead role in the overall investigation and subsequent filing of drug cases in cooperation with member agencies.

As the commander and executive officer of the Airport-IADITG, PDEA should monitor the operational activities of the task group and coordinate and support them during which.

Among the signees of the MOA were Cacdac, Lieutenant General William Hotchkiss III, CAAP Director General, representatives from the Office for Transportation Security; Bureau of Customs; Bureau of Immigration; Department of Justice-National Prosecution Service; National Bureau of Investigation; and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force; and the PNP Aviation Security Group.