Airport authorities foiled attempts to smuggle P133 million worth of prohibited drugs through mail parcels, including those involving methamphetamine hydrochloride hidden in DVD players, cereals and house furnitures.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña Jr. said his men from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport seized 17.96 kilograms of shabu and 1.03 kilograms of marijuana leaves intercepted at the Federal Express Warehouse near the airport terminal.
The Customs personnel discovered the drugs concealed in five parcels, four of which came from the United States while one is an outbound shipment to New Zealand.
The authorities tried using the controlled delivery scheme to arrest the recipients of the shipments but failed since the names and addresses of the consignees were found to be fictitious.
Based on documents, the senders of the shipments were identified as Taylor Dizon, Eagler Po Box Rental, Gina Gamboa, Raven Mesina, Donna Mendoza and consigned to Christina Dizon, Alvin Santiago, Sergio Gamboa Natividad, Gracen Washington and Ricardo Mendoza.
“There are some circumstances when the package cannot be delivered to the consignee especially when the addresses are fictitious,” said Lapeña.
In Pampanga, about two kilograms of shabu worth P13.6 million, which also originated from the United States, were intercepted at the Clark International Airport. This case was found to be using the same modus operandi of sending drugs hidden in parcels through courier service.
The sender was identified as Tanya Dela Cruz of North Hills, California, who was also the sender of the seized shabu shipment recently seized at the same port.
Lapena commended his men for the latest accomplishments.
“These cannot be done without the efforts of the Customs officers doing the examination on the ground as well as the strengthened coordination of the bureau with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency,” said Lapena in a press conference at Customs – NAIA headquarters.
Lapena earlier directed all district collectors to protect the borders against the illegal entry of contraband goods such as illegal drugs, which remain a serious concern of the government.
“On the campaign of the BOC against drugs, I took it upon myself that another important mission that I have to do is to suppress the drugs supply in the country. It appears that bulk shipment of drugs is through the ports. My mission here does not only end with campaign against corruption and boost revenue collection but also to reduce the supply of drugs in the country,” he said.
Lapena had signed a memorandum order addressed to all district collectors to examine all hand carry luggage of arriving passengers assisted by any government employee in all ports of the country.
“I am also discouraging the salubong system at the airport,” the Customs chief said.
For his part, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal ordered his men to be on alert in and outside the airport against illegal drug trafficking to discourage international and local drug syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point or dumping ground for their illegal substances.
Shabu, marijuana and ecstasy are the top three narcotics distributed in the streets and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese and Mexican drug syndicates, according to PDEA.
PDEA officials said the country’s drug problem could now be classified as a national security threat.
The authorities vowed that the government’s crackdown on drug dealing in the country would continue with the goal of catching protectors and financiers of the illegal drug trade.
