China helping PDEA in cocaine haul probe

MANILA, Philippines - Chinese anti-narcotics agents are now working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in investigating the discovery of almost 300 kilos of high-grade cocaine found floating off the coasts of Eastern and Northern Samar last month.

Drug law enforcement officers, peace officers, and investigators from the People’s Republic of China visited the country last Wednesday to discuss the joint probe.

PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago personally welcomed the Chinese delegation led by Director Li Xianhui, head of the Division of Investigative Instruction of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Ministry of Public Security of the China National Narcotics Control Commission.

Santiago said the Chinese delegation pledged utmost cooperation through intelligence sharing and other aspects of the investigation and even invited key PDEA officials and probers to travel to China and inspect the fishing vessel that was used in transporting the illegal drugs before they were dumped near Philippine territorial waters.

The Chinese delegation also submitted a formal request for scientific tests on the cocaine bricks and their packaging materials to help them in the filing of criminal charges against the ship’s arrested crewmembers.

Santiago said PDEA held a case conference with the Chinese delegation to share vital intelligence information on the cocaine haul considering how at least two tons of high-grade cocaine bricks were reportedly unloaded as the vessel passed through the country.

Although illegal drugs were made to float in international waters, these were carried toward the shorelines of Eastern and Northern Samar, allowing local fishermen to find them last month.

Santiago has directed PDEA’s Region 8 office to spearhead the retrieval and recovery of the remaining cocaine bricks.

“With much help from our domestic and international police and military counterparts, the local government and the community, we have retrieved a total of 294 kilograms of cocaine bricks,” he said.

“They deserve commendations for canceling their holiday breaks just to ensure that they retrieve the illegal drugs,” he added, noting that President Arroyo herself witnessed the ceremonial burning of 66 kilograms of cocaine last Dec. 24.

Aside from China, Santiago said PDEA is also closely coordinating with counterparts from the US Drug Enforcement Administration who have also expressed their interest in supporting the investigation.

“PDEA is undertaking a thorough and deliberate investigation. This is an international case which calls for the concerted efforts of all stakeholders,” he said.