200 females under watchlist of PDEA 6
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 6 is monitoring 200 women engaged in illegal drug trade out of the more than 1,100 drug personalities under close watch in Western Visayas.
Paul Ledesma, officer-in-charge of PDEA-6, said these women are engaged not only as drug pushers, but are also drug users themselves.
They are even being used as fronts of drug traders through prostitution.
Ledesma said these women are also “conspirators” in maintaining drug dens.
The PDEA-6 had identified 23 drug dens in the region, 11 of which were neutralized last year.
Ledesma said the arrest of Janet Salvador alias “Bingka” of Zone 2, Brgy. Bakhaw in Mandurriao district shows that their report of women playing a major role in illegal drug operations is positive.
Salvador, 30, was caught in a buy bust operation conducted by joint operatives of Iloilo City Police Office and PDEA-6 the other day.
Ledesma said Salvador is under their watchlist.
ENTRY POINTS
Ledesma said PDEA-6 personnel are also intensifying their monitoring of roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ports in the region to prevent the entry of illegal drugs in Western Visayas.
Those into drug trafficking are taking advantage of the Ro-Ro system to transport prohibited substances, he said.
PDEA-6 has found out that in municipalities where there are Ro-Ro ports, cases of illegal drugs are increasing.
Ledesma said PDEA-6 is working with the Philippine Coast Guard 6 in enforcing preemptive measures.
The Coast Guard has deployed K9 dogs in seaport areas to help detect the possible entry of illegal drugs and explosives.
The PCG-6 has 10 K9 or bomb sniffing dogs scattered regionwide.
In Iloilo City, three K9 dogs are on standby in the areas of Muelle Loney and Fort San Pedro while another three are in Boracay Island.
Two each have been deployed to Bacolod City and Dumangas, Iloilo.
Commodore William Melad of PCG-6 said the K9 dog conducts regular inspection of all port facilities, vessels, baggages, and cargoes before departure.
