THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said it has conducted a surprise raid dubbed as “Greyhound Operation” on detainees in its warden facility in Taguig, which yielded contrabands such as electronic gadgets, alcoholic beverages and sharp objects and tools.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the raid was conducted last February 4 by the BI Warden Facility (BIWF) management, officers from the BI Intelligence Division as well as the BI Anti-Terrorist Group in coordination with the Philippine National Police National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Intelligence Division, and the assistance of the PNP Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the PNP NCRPO–Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB).
Morente added that the raid was part of a series of random surprise inspections to ensure that the facility remains drug-free and free from illegal paraphernalia.
Confiscated during the raid were gadgets like tablets, laptops, and cellphones, alcoholic beverages, gambling paraphernalia, kitchen knives, scissors and other sharp objects, and tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, and pliers.
“This shakedown is long overdue, as the last raid that we conducted was done a year ago,” Morente said.
The conduct of surprise raids, according to the BI chief, is necessary to show that there is no special treatment being given to any of the detainees.
“While the facility is not a jail, the use of gadgets is regulated. Gambling paraphernalia are not allowed, and sharp objects are prohibited to prevent any untoward incidents,” Morente noted.
Morente said the items would be temporarily kept for safekeeping in the BIWF and would be released upon the owner’s deportation.
