Middle-to-senior level narcotics control law enforcers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) received a Capability Enhancement Training on Anti-Illegal Drug Operations from the country’s premier organization on illegal drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“The training course is designed to provide our KSA counterparts with a strategic overview on drug law enforcement in the Philippines with emphasis on intelligence, interdiction, tactical operations and management, community-based anti-illegal drug advocacy and sharing of best possible practices and lessons learned,” said PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr.

The specialized training is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Undersecretary Cacdac and KSA’s Directorate General for Drugs Control, Major General Othman Nasser Al Mhrij on July 19, 2013.

“The MOU not only strengthens bilateral cooperation but also fosters closer interaction between the two nations towards combating the drug menace,” Cacdac said.

The one-month training which consists of a series of lectures, discussions and educational tours, is held at the Ascott Hotel, Glorietta 4, Ayala Centre, Makati City from November 10, 2014 to December 10, 2014.

Cacdac was one of the special guests during the 2nd Regional Symposium on Narcotics Control and Information Exchange on May 1, 2013 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In return, a KSA delegation headed by Major General Othman Nasser Al Mhrij has visited PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City three weeks later.

The agency has reportedly inspired KSA officials during their courtesy visit last year. “They have observed that PDEA may be short in manpower but not on efforts,” Cacdac noted, referring to the record-breaking seizures of illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, in the country this year.

“With the recognition, Middle Eastern countries like United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Bahrain had already signified their intention of coming in as beneficiaries of such training in the future,” he continued.

“The training course is considered to be a significant change in PDEA’s operational competency and capability. We have evolved in the context of being both the receiver and the giver. From a typical recipient of numerous regular courses from foreign counterparts on K9 handling, airport interdiction operations, investigation and intelligence courses, custodial management, among others, it is but right for PDEA to reciprocate what it has previously received,” Cacdac explained.

Being a staunch advocate of training, Cacdac has institutionalized career courses for PDEA officers and personnel with focus on narcotics intelligence, investigation, community-based anti-illegal drug advocacy, forensic drug chemistry, airport interdiction and custodial management. The leadership course will also be launched this November while the management course for PDEA senior officers is set for implementation starting 2015.

Middle-to-senior level narcotics control law enforcers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) received a Capability Enhancement Training on Anti-Illegal Drug Operations from the country’s premier organization on illegal drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“The training course is designed to provide our KSA counterparts with a strategic overview on drug law enforcement in the Philippines with emphasis on intelligence, interdiction, tactical operations and management, community-based anti-illegal drug advocacy and sharing of best possible practices and lessons learned,” said PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr.

The specialized training is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Undersecretary Cacdac and KSA’s Directorate General for Drugs Control, Major General Othman Nasser Al Mhrij on July 19, 2013.

“The MOU not only strengthens bilateral cooperation but also fosters closer interaction between the two nations towards combating the drug menace,” Cacdac said.

The one-month training which consists of a series of lectures, discussions and educational tours, is held at the Ascott Hotel, Glorietta 4, Ayala Centre, Makati City from November 10, 2014 to December 10, 2014.

Cacdac was one of the special guests during the 2nd Regional Symposium on Narcotics Control and Information Exchange on May 1, 2013 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In return, a KSA delegation headed by Major General Othman Nasser Al Mhrij has visited PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City three weeks later.

The agency has reportedly inspired KSA officials during their courtesy visit last year. “They have observed that PDEA may be short in manpower but not on efforts,” Cacdac noted, referring to the record-breaking seizures of illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, in the country this year.

“With the recognition, Middle Eastern countries like United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Bahrain had already signified their intention of coming in as beneficiaries of such training in the future,” he continued.

“The training course is considered to be a significant change in PDEA’s operational competency and capability. We have evolved in the context of being both the receiver and the giver. From a typical recipient of numerous regular courses from foreign counterparts on K9 handling, airport interdiction operations, investigation and intelligence courses, custodial management, among others, it is but right for PDEA to reciprocate what it has previously received,” Cacdac explained.

Being a staunch advocate of training, Cacdac has institutionalized career courses for PDEA officers and personnel with focus on narcotics intelligence, investigation, community-based anti-illegal drug advocacy, forensic drug chemistry, airport interdiction and custodial management. The leadership course will also be launched this November while the management course for PDEA senior officers is set for implementation starting 2015.