By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

MANILA – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Tuesday forged a partnership on data and technology sharing to curb the importation and supply of illegal drugs.
PDEA Assistant Secretary Renato Gumban and CICC Executive Director, Undersecretary Alexander Ramos signed the memorandum of agreement at the National Cybercrime Hub in Taguig City.
Under the agreement, the CICC will give technical expertise to the PDEA by sharing data and linking them with agencies concerned with investigating and prosecuting cases related to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
PDEA, meanwhile, is tasked with providing liaisons to the National Cybercrime Hub to streamline the suppression of drug-related cybercrimes.
Gumban said PDEA needs the CICC’s help in performing its functions as a deputized agency of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to bolster the campaign against drug money launderers.
Gumban said they will use the capability of the CICC for supply reduction and detection of contraband being transported through ships and container vans.
“We need the CICC’s expertise because PDEA is not yet well-versed in cybercrime investigation. Sometimes, we get help from our other foreign counterparts. Kung minsan, kulang yung mga information, kaya kailangan namin yung CICC nang ma-zero in natin yung mga information na ‘yan… Marami kasing network rin ‘yang mga kalaban natin sa drugs (However, we lack information and we need the CICC to zero in these information. Our enemies have a wide network),” Gumban said.
Ramos said their partnership with PDEA is a big leap in addressing drug abuse in the country.
“We want to share this expertise with our partners in PDEA to ensure that we enable them to pursue the mission rigorously,” said Ramos.
Earlier, PDEA said PHP518.4 million worth of assets and properties representing proceeds of illegal drug activities, were subjected to civil forfeiture and covered with freeze orders from 2022 to the present.
Out of the figure, PHP4.03 million worth of parcels of land, motor vehicles, and firearms belonging to drug money launderers were forfeited in favor of the government, while cash in bank accounts, vehicles, and plots of land amounting to PHP514.4 million were either frozen or preserved.
Portions of this drug money were the subject of 28 money laundering cases referred by PDEA to the Anti-Money Laundering Council for financial investigation, and 41 cases filed before the Department of Justice.
Crackdown vs. drug money in crypto
Ramos, meanwhile, said the CICC began its involvement in drug-related cybercrimes in 2024 by assisting in tracking down the payment system used by drug criminals online.
He noted that the illegal drug trade has been using cryptocurrency in transferring drug money, particularly the Tether, also known as USDT, platform.
USDT is a blockchain-enabled platform designed to facilitate the use of fiat currencies in a digital manner and is available on most digital blockchain networks or via interoperable swaps or exchanges.
“Most of those we see are USDT. It’s a platform that they’re using. Of course, they’re using local channels first. Using the wallets, e-wallets before they convert it to crypto,” Ramos said. (with Raymond dela Cruz/PNA)