THE Task Force (TF) Davao has seized about P7 million in contrabands in the city’s borders between January and the first two weeks of this month with about half of the value in smuggled cigarettes.
On Tuesday, Col. Darren Comia, commander of the unit, said that during the same period also resulted in the arrest of 215 individuals who tried to sneak into the city illegal drugs, smuggled cigarettes and illegal firearms.
More than half of the value of those seized illegal goods at P3.9785 were smuggled cigarettes with about P1.25 million of these were confiscated on Tuesday. The unit also collared 18 individuals for trying to sneak these contrabands into the city.
During the period, the unit recovered 204 grams of shabu valued at P3.2 million and 867 grams of marijuana valued at P108,598. These also resulted in the arrest of 155 people.
The TF-Davao arrested 42 individuals for carrying illegal firearms during the period.
Meanwhile, Comia said the 500-personnel task force will be augmented by a company from the 10th Infantry Division and the reservist forces during the observance of the All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day.
He said he is expecting about 800 soldiers are needed to secure the areas of convergence in the city.
“Hihingi tayo ng additional forces sa 10th Infantry Division, kasama na ang mga reservist na mga kasamahan natin sa Philippine Army, nang sa ganon mapunan ang kakulangan sa personnel sa dami ng sementeryo, public at private, na ise-secure ng security forces dito sa Davao City,” Comia said.
He added that security inspections will be intensified at the border checkpoints in Sirawan, Eden, Lacson, Malagos and Lasang, in the airport, and that some of them will patrol the Davao River in a 24 hour schedule.
Comia said the TF-Davao will be adding another riverine detachment force in the Bunawan area in order to intercept water vessels carrying illegal cargoes coming in from Samal and Davao del Norte.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, mache-check natin yong lahat ng mga pumapasok ng Davao City,” Comia added.
