Government agents intercepted another shipment of ecstasy pills worth P1 million smuggled from the Netherlands.
The parcel of 535 pieces of ecstasy sent by one “Post NL” and consigned to an individual living in Malate, Manila, was discovered at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City late last month.
Meanwhile, a high-value drug suspect was killed while PHP10 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in separate operations in Cainta, Rizal, and Manila, the Philippine National Police said Friday.
PNP Chief Debold Sinas said the suspect was slain after engaging in a shootout with members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group to escape arrest in an operation on Riverside Drive, Lawton, in Manila around 12:20 a.m.
Agents of the Bureau of Customs—Ninoy Aquino International Airport seized the shipment in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA—Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.
The authorities placed the parcel under physical examination and discovered the pills.
The latest apprehension brings to a total of 23,482 ecstasy tablets worth P42.2 million seized in 2020 by Customs NAIA, which has been active in intercepting illegal drugs both in passenger terminals and air parcels.
The contraband was immediately turned over to the PDEA for proper disposition and for the filing of criminal charges against the owner.
The series of drug smuggling prompted Customs-NAIA to intensify its campaign by subjecting more parcels to rigid document profiling, x-ray scanning and physical examinations.
Authorities said criminal syndicates were still daring to smuggle prohibited drugs using the Philippine postal system.