The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has partnered with a local courier service company in its move to put an end to drug trafficking. PDEA executive director Wilkins Vilanueva enlisted the services of the Ninja Van led by its country head Martin Cu, in a simple ceremony of the signing of a memorandum of agreement.
“There is an increasing prevalence involving delivery courier services as mode of trafficking dangerous drugs. They have become unknowing drug couriers by accepting delivery orders from persons engaged in illegal drug trade,” he said.
He said drug syndicates have found several creative ways to distribute illegal drugs despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The safest way to move illegal drugs is the absence of human contact. They resort to delivery service platforms to make the delivery of illicit goods close to undetectable,” he added.
The Ninja Van is a technology company operating a mobile and web application matching its accredited drivers with consumers in need of delivery services in certain areas in the Philippines.
Under the arrangement, PDEA and Ninja Van have agreed to cooperate and coordinate closely with one another, and to exchange best practices and knowledge to combat transportation of dangerous drugs, or controlled precursor and essential chemicals.
Villanueva said they have both promised to synchronize their
efforts to interdict and prevent the express delivery and/or
transportation of packages containing illegal drugs into the
Philippine territory, including gathering of information, monitoring
and identification of suspected drug trafficking activities.