Anti-narcotics forces deployed K-9 narcotic detection dogs in the province to further intensify their anti-drug campaign against couriers using the province as transshipment point for Marijuana
PDEA Mountain Province, under the leadership of Provincial Officer Edwin C. Changrapen, together with the Mountain Province Police Provincial Office (MPPPO), under the leadership of PCOL Clarence C. Casilio initiated the use of anti-narcotics dogs following the unprecedented surge in the number of arrested drug personalities and recoveries of abandoned packages of Marijuana in the different parts of the province recently.
In the month of August alone this year anti-narcotics operatives arrested seven individuals for transporting marijuana bricks in six separate operations.
Cases for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were filed against all the arrested suspects while the confiscated illegal drugs were turned over to evidence custodian pending resolution of the cases.
PDEA Cordillera Regional Director, Director III Edgar S. Apalla, in an interview during the recently held 17th anniversary celebration of PDEA said that PDEA alone cannot fulfill its vision of a drug-free Philippines without the help of the stakeholders and the public in general. He encouraged everyone especially the local government units to step up their support on the programs of PDEA.