Government agents intercepted P15.4 million worth of prohibited drugs smuggled at the Central Mail Exchange Center and a bonded warehouse in Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña Jr. presented the contraband on Thursday and turned it over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for proper disposition.
Seized were 2.21 kilos shabu, 48 oil ampules and 12 pieces of small plastic containers with jelly marmalade that were found to have cannabis or marijuana content, and several boxes of Valium and Mogadon, concealed in five packages which arrived at the CMEX and FedEx warehouse in separate dates.
The shabu is estimated to have a street value of P14 million while the valium and mogadon worth more or less P1.496 million. The value of the marijuana is yet to be determined as of press time.
The illegal drugs from Thailand, USA, Africa, and Pakistan were hidden in foot and calf massagers, a religious frame, letter, boxing gloves and baseball jersey, and clothes.
Lapeña said the shipment consignees were identified as Melinda Dacallos of Caloocan City, Joseph Manialac of Angeles City, Logy Ramirez of Batac, Ilocos Norte, Edward dela Rosa of Las Piñas City, and Rico Delicano of Cotabato City.
The packages were sent by Naphet Inhin, Kaggwa Godfrey, Gino Zerimar, and Muhammad Sajid Raza.
“The interception of the seized illegal drugs would not be made possible without the profiling skills of customs examiners, CAIDTF, BOC-NAIA, X-ray Inspection Project, and the PDEA,” Lapeña said.
XIP head lawyer Zsae Carrie de Guzman said four of the five packages underwent x-ray examination.
“The x-ray machines stationed at the two warehouses showed a suspicious image which was tagged by the X-ray inspectors “for verification.” She said that packages marked by the X-ray inspectors undergo examination by the customs examiners in the presence of XIP.
NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said “The Port of NAIA together with the Commissioner of Customs will unceasingly support the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and will continue its vigilance in protecting the borders.”
She directed all officers to be vigilant in profiling documents and subject all to x-ray and physical examination of all targeted goods.
The consignees will be charged for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act once they have been identified.