The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) enhancing further their partnership in preventing drug smuggling in the country's seaports and airports.
The MOA was signed via simple rites at the PDEA Headquarters by PDEA Director- General Wilkins M. Villanueva and BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
In a statement, the PDEA said the MOA is valuable in “suppressing the smuggling, importation, exportation and transshipment of dangerous drugs or controlled precursors and essential chemicals, including instruments, paraphernalia, apparatuses, and equipment used in the administration and manufacture of illegal drugs; and to share the expertise and competence of each other in their respective jurisdiction, fields of specialization, and proficiency.’’
At present, the partnership has resulted in the seizures of billions of pesos worth of illegal drugs.
“This new agreement between PDEA and BOC is a big boost in our continuing effort to eradicate smuggling of illegal drugs using our ports which are being exploited by syndicates to expand their nefarious activities,” Villanueva said.