Customs and anti-narcotics agents arrested two claimants of a smuggled shipment of the party drug Ecstasy during a controlled delivery operation in Davao City.
Operatives from the Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group arrested Christian Sulla and Kenneth Cajoles in Elrio Vista Village after claiming the shipment worth more than P830,000.
The parcel shipments arrived at the Central Main Exchange Center in Pasay City and were found containing 494 pieces of tablets.
Customs-NAIA immediately coordinated with the officials of PDEA and IADITG to conduct a controlled delivery operation after confirming that the subject cargo was confirmed as ecstasy, a prohibited drug.
“The bureau turned over the illegal drugs to the PDEA for further profiling and case buildup against the importers and responsible persons for a possible prosecution,” said Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
Guerrero commended the Port of NAIA under the supervision of district collector Carmelita Talusan for their accomplishments in going after drug smuggling.
He also praised the men from PDEA and the Interdiction Task Force for successfully conducting the anti-drugs controlled delivery operation.
Last month, the authorities also arrested two claimants of P600,000 worth of smuggled shipment of kush marijuana, also during a controlled delivery operation in Batangas.
The suspects were Van Joshua Magpantay and Johnyengle Hernandez.
Based on the cargo manifest, the shipment arrived at the Federal Express warehouse in Pasay City and was sent by a certain Nina Manual from California. It was declared as “musical instruments” and consigned to a certain “Dimitria Escalona” of Batangas.
The controlled delivery technique is used when a consignment of illicit drugs is detected and allowed to go forward under the control and surveillance of law enforcement officers in order to secure evidence against the organizers of such illicit drug trafficking.
This operation has proved effective in identifying and bringing to justice the principals, organizers and financiers of the illegal drug trade.