The Bureau of Customs on Friday announced it has intercepted three smuggled shipments containing ecstasy and ketamine drugs worth more than P8 million in separate operations in Pasay City.
Two shipments, which came from the Netherlands and Germany, and consigned to a certain Angeli Khang and one Patricia Reyes, respectively, were misdeclared as “Children’s Toys, Children’s School Bag, Hot Water Bottle, Children’s Shoes, Children’s Hat, Children’s Color, and Pencils”.
But when Customs examiners placed the shipments under 100 percent physical examination, they discovered a total of 4,547 pieces of ecstasy, a dangerous party drug, worth P7,559,900.
The authorities also found 178.5 grams of ketamine worth P892, 500 concealed inside a water filter from the third package shipped from Malaysia and consigned to a certain “Ferdie Santos.”
Operatives of the Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport conducted the operations at the Federal Express warehouse and Central Mail Exchange Center, both in Pasay City.
The seizure was also made in close coordination with the help from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.
“Through the intensified security measures and the vigilance of Custom NAIA personnel, the shipments were subjected to 100 percent physical examination which yielded the discovery of dangerous drugs. The discoveries were immediately coordinated with PDEA and IADITG,” said Port of NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan.
Talusan’s office turned over to PDEA the confiscated drugs for further profiling and case build-up against the consignees and other personalities.
The owners will be held liable for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.
Early this month, the same team also seized a letter parcel containing ecstasy from the Netherlands, and arrested its claimant in an entrapment operation in Manila.
Arrested was Henry James Chua who claimed the package containing 100 tablets worth P170,000 at the Central Post Office in Manila.
Two months ago, the authorities also arrested Elisa Millare after claiming a package containing 1,783 tablets of ecstasy worth P3 million at a mail station in Baguio.
The shipment arrived at the CMEC in Pasay City on July 13 from Neuss, Germany and was misdeclared as bedsheet, children’s pencil, and a pair of shoes, which is a clear case of technical smuggling.
Customs personnel have been apprehending illegal drug shipments in compliance with the directive of Bureau of Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrrero to secure the borders and the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.