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Friday, March 29, 2024

Customs nets P2M in ecstasy in Pasay

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Customs agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have seized more than P2 million worth of ecstasy and ketamine at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

‘ECSTASY’ TABLETS. The Bureau of Customs-Port of NAIA with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group show the contents of five parcels containing illegal drugs at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. This prevented the entry of a total of 1,115 ecstasy tablets, and 26.4 grams of Ketamine with an aggregate value of P2.0278 million. BOC Photo

The confiscated parcels, which contained 1,115 ecstasy tablets and 26.4 grams of ketamine, were smuggled from the Netherlands and Germany.

The authorities did not identify the consignees. They, however, said the shipments are consigned to four individuals residing in Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Bulacan, and Davao.

Port of NAIA agents seized the shipments with the help from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel and members of the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.

“These parcels were initially tagged suspicious by X-ray Inspection Project personnel. Upon 100% physical examination, the Customs examiner found tablets in different colors and a white crystalline substance,” said NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan.

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“Qualitative chemical laboratory test conducted by PDEA confirmed that the seized tablets are ecstasy, while the white substance is ketamine,” she added.

Talusan said the prohibited drugs were immediately turned over to PDEA for case build up and the filing of criminal charges against the persons behind the illegal importation.

She added the owners will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165) in relation to Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation) of the Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Customs NAIA records showed that smuggling attempts of ecstasy at the country’s premier airport increased from 14 parcels seized in 2020 to 23 parcels seized in 2021 “or 60% percentage increase in data of interception.”

NAIA Task Force deputy commander Gerald Javier said “the increasing number of ecstasy seizures is an indicator that there is a demand of such product in our country. But we, the people in the port of entry, are really on the target to intercept these illegal drugs.”

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