WASHINGTON: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has started conducting random drug tests on its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) agents in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the BOC said more than 80 CIIS agents underwent drug tests on Friday which CIIS chief Colonel Neil Anthony Estrella called as “historic.”
“Our drug testing initiative puts the CIIS and the BOC in a historic milestone while every agent of the bureau carries on its mandate to safeguard the well-being of Filipinos against the influx of illegal drugs from other countries through our borders,” Estrella said. Estrella added the CIIS aims to cover all of its 17 units and 500 agents nationwide.
The initial 88 agents in the random drug tests came from the Office of the CIIS Director, Administrative and Support Unit, Production Section, Investigation Division, Intellectual Property Rights Division, Port of Manila, Harbor Center, Manila International Container Port, North Harbor, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Risk Management Office, and Trade and Transparency Unit. Agents from the ports of San Fernando, Batangas, Subic, Clark, and Limay were also invited in the random drug tests. The BOC statement said agents from others ports are scheduled for drug testing in the next few weeks.
