BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA

Additional x-ray scanners are needed in the seaport of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental to address the drug smuggling concern there.

Installing more x-ray scanners will strengthen the port’s monitoring scheme, making sure that no contrabands will go in and out the province.

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr. said he supports the request that San Carlos City police head Superintendent D’Artagnan Katalbas Jr. made.

Aside from the scanners, Katalbas also asked for additional K-9 units.

“Unfortunately, we cannot immediately comply with Katalbas’ request for additional K-9 units. However we are following it up,” said Castil.

The San Carlos port has long been NOPPO’s concern, stressed Castil, adding that it is the entry point of illegal drugs from Cebu.

NOPPO will coordinate with police officers in Cebu regarding this matter, according to Castil.

Katalbas said there are no x-ray scanners at the port of Toledo City in Cebu. This enables drug couriers to easily smuggle illegal drugs to Negros, he added.

NOPPO is also keeping an eye on Bacolod City’s Bredco port, which can also be an entry point for illegal drugs.

Earlier this year, the Bacolod City Police Office also made a request for additional x-ray scanners and other equipment for drug detection at Bredco.

According to Castil, drugs from Luzon first enter Iloilo through the Dumangas port.

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

Bulalacao added that Negros Island has become a “transhipment hub” for illicit substances, like shabu, which are sent to Cebu, Manila and Mindanao.

He also said PRO-6 already coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard to deploy more personnel in the “poorly manned” Negros Occidental seaports./DGB, WDJ