PDEA, BI close ranks vs foreign drug lords in RP

07/19/2008 | 07:32 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Two government law enforcement agencies have closed ranks in going after foreigners engaging in illicit drug trade both here and abroad.

The two agencies, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), have signed an agreement last week for a joint cooperation in the anti-drug campaign.

BI Commissioner Marcelino Libanan and PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago inked the agreement.

"With this agreement, we are serving notice to these foreign drug lords that their days are numbered and that it won't be long before the long arm of the law will catch them," Libanan said in a statement.

The BI chief said the agreement would boost the anti-drug campaign. He noted that large volumes of illegal drugs in the country came from abroad and manufactured by foreigners.

Libanan cited some instances where law enforcers have arrested foreigners suspected of being drug chemists in raids on suspected drug dens and drug laboratories.

Under the MOA, BI agreed to assist PDEA in investigating drug cases involving foreigners and in collecting, establishing and maintaining a travel database of suspected foreign drug lords entering and leaving the country. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/108029/PDEA-BI-close-ranks-vs-foreign-drug-lords-in-RP