PDEA: P250-M illegal drugs seized at NAIA in 2012

CEBU, Philippines - At least P250 million worth of illegal drugs were seized last year at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as part of the government’s intensified effort to combat narcotics transit, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said yesterday.

PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac Jr. issued the statement during the launch of the operations center of the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group at the airport’s Terminal 3.

“The activation of the operations center was made possible through the assistance of the United States government, which allocated P12 million under the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Project,” he said.

Lawyer Ronnie Cudia of the PDEA’s airport drug interdiction unit said some 50 kilos of shabu with a street value of P250 million were confiscated from 28 persons at the NAIA last year.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas commended the Philippine government for creating the inter-agency task group.

According to Thomas, this has contributed to the safety and security not only of the Philippines but also of neighboring countries from the drug menace.

Cacdac said the task group, which he heads, was created to effectively synchronize anti-drug efforts to prevent the NAIA from being exploited as an entry and exit point for drug trafficking.