The government of United States (US) recently donated a drug detection and analysis equipment amounting to P3.5 million to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for its K9 force.
The US Embassy in the Philippines said Tuesday, Nov. 16, that its Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) donated the drug detection and analysis equipment to the PCG K9 Force to boost the US-Philippine cooperation to counter maritime crimes.
According to the embassy, the donation includes two handheld drug analyzers and 15 telescopic camera (borescope) detection units. These will be distributed to various field units throughout the country.
The donation was turned over to Commodore Nelson B. Torre, K9 Force commander, during a ceremony at the PCG K9 Force headquarters in Taguig City last Nov. 12.
The equipment was the second INL donation of drug detection equipment to the K9 Force. In early 2020, INL donated four handheld drug analyzers that the PCG and its partners have used in interdiction efforts.
During the turn-over ceremony, guest of honor Rear Adm. Ronnie Gil L. Gavan, commander of PCG’s Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command, expressed his appreciation for the continued U.S. assistance and highlighted the critical role of the K9 Force in accomplishing PCG’s mission.
"INL and its US partner agencies are working with PCG to explore additional opportunities to support K9 Force development," the US Embassy stated.