Police contradict PDEA on latest drug shipment

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde said on Monday, August 13, that the statement of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director Aaron Aquino on the discovery of more magnetic lifters still needs to be verified.

Aquino had said that the lifters, which were empty when found by authorities, may have contained at least a ton of illegal drugs, which are probably now being distributed on the streets.

"'Yung sinabi ng director ng PDEA, that has to be validated kung gaano talaga karami, kung meron mang lumusot. Because after ma-recover 'yung mga magnetic na lifters na 'yun, that has to be still validated because as of this time nakita kasi 'yun wala nang laman," Albayalde said in a press conference in Camp Crame.

(What the PDEA director said has to be validated, whether illegal drugs indeed slipped through and how big the shipment was. The magnetic lifters were empty when these were recovered.)

On August 9, Thursday, joint PDEA and PNP operatives discovered four magnetic lifters in a warehouse in Unit 4, Lot 1-18, CRS Subdivision, Barangay F. Reyes in General Mariano Alvarez (GMA), Cavite.

The magnetic lifters were similar to those discovered by the PDEA and Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Terminal, which contained 500 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) estimated to be worth P4.3 billion.

In a press conference on Friday, August 10, PDEA director Aaron Aquino said the empty magnetic lifters may have contained illegal drugs based on the reaction of the K-9 units upon inspection.

Aquino said it could have contained a ton, or a thousand kilos, of illegal drugs worth around P7 billion.

He said those illegal drugs could have already been disposed on the streets.

However, for the part of the PNP, Albayalde said they were only informed about the presence of the magnetic lifters inside the warehouse but they have no information on its entry into the country or that these once contained illegal drugs.

He said the PNP will coordinate with the PDEA for the conduct of an in-depth investigation on the matter. (SunStar Philippines)

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