By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

San Carlos City police chief, Police Superintendent D’Artagnan Katalbas, Jr., has requested additional x-ray scanners, along other detection devices, in order to stop the flow of illegal drugs at the San Carlos City port.

Katalbas said most of the illegal drug supply enters the city’s port from Toledo City, Cebu.

He explained, the San Carlos City port has an x-ray machine, however, it is only used for those entering the port; while the port in Toledo City does not have any x-ray machines, which enables drug couriers to smuggle drugs into Negros Occidental undetected.

Katalbas further pointed out, it is very difficult to intercept those carrying illegal drugs, especially when they use private vehicles.

“We are not really certain as to how they smuggle drugs [into] Negros Occidental, because we have [roll-on/roll-off ferries] and fast crafts,” Katalbas explained.

Since the port has already been tagged as an entry point for drugs in the province, Katalbas added the city’s police force have stepped up security and monitoring at the port.

Last week, Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) director, Police Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, said illegal drugs remain a “big problem” in the Western Visayas, especially in Negros Occidental.

According to Bulalacao, drugs are a particular problem in Negros because the island has developed into a “transhipment hub” for illicit substances, including shabu, with shipments being sent out to Cebu, Manila, and Mindanao.

He added, with seaports in Negros Occidental “poorly-manned,” PRO-6 has already coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard to deploy more personnel to the province, including K-9 units./DGB, WDJ