Customs gets 3 handheld illegal drug analyzers from US

US officials in Manila handed over illegal drug analyzers to the Philippine Bureau of Customs on Thursday in the hopes of improving BOC's operational capability.

A statement posted on US Embassy-Manila's website said that representatives from the US Department of State’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and US Drug Enforcement handed over the equipment to BOC officials at the bureau's headquarters in Port Area.

It added that the three donated handheld drug analyzers, valued at Php3.6 million ($75,000), will be used by BOC officials to counter drug flows into the Philippines.

BOC Commissioner Leonardo Guerrero during the handover said, “This equipment will greatly contribute to our effort against illegal drugs.”

For its part, US Embassy INL Director Kelia Cummins noted, “We are pleased to have this opportunity to contribute to the Bureau of Customs’ operational capability.”

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. retweeted the handover of the multi-million peso set of equipment to the BOC.

U.S. @StateINL and @DEAHQ handed over U.S.-funded equipment valued at Php3.6 million ($75,000) to the Philippine Bureau of Customs that will be used to counter illegal drug flows into the Philippines. #FriendsPartnersAllies
Read: https://t.co/iBi4YMIP29 pic.twitter.com/65JjmobGFs

— U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (@USEmbassyPH) December 4, 2020

 —LBG, GMA News