Criminal syndicates continue to smuggle prohibited drugs into the country, this time using the Philippine postal system.
On Thursday, Customs officials at the Port of NAIA presented P27.5 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, cocaine and cannabis seized in separate occasions at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.
The contraband—found in different packages of P850,000 worth of marijuana (500 grams) concealed inn portable heater, P14.3 million of shabu, were declared as baby dress and birthday card, and P12.3 million worth of cocaine declared as supplementary sheet—were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Based on the documents, the marijuana came from USA and consigned to one Raven Delosa of Quezon City while the 204 grams of shabu was from the United Kingdom and consigned to Joy Bido of Dasmarinas in Cavite who was arrested last month.
The 2,329 grams of cocaine, on the other hand, came from Sao Paolo, Brazil and was consigned to Johnmel Natividad of Caloocan City.
The consignees will be charged with violation of provisions of Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and RA 9165 otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
The latest apprehension brings to 27 the total number of drug busts made by the Port of NAIA led by its collector Carmelita Talusan in span of six months.
Talusan and her NAIA team of examiners, operatives from the X-Ray Inspection Project office and the bureau’s Enforcement Group, continue to strengthen their vigilance to prevent the entry of drugs and other anti-social and prohibited goods.
In June, Airport and Customs authorities also intercepted in CMEC a package shipped from Canada containing marijuana worth more than P100,000.
Four vacuum-sealed plastic pouches containing 343 grams of cannabis dried leaves was discovered in the parcel upon examination by authorities.
Meanwhile, the authorities also presented a smuggled mangrove snake intended for export to Taipei which was turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The sender was traced from a certain Darryl Lim, a resident in Mandaluyong City.
The government said that 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.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena Jr. ordered his men to “protect our borders and increase the revenue collection.”
He said the government’s crackdown on drug dealing in the country will continue with the goal of catching protectors and financiers of the illegal drug trade.
In a separate event, the bureau turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development assorted clothes, beddings, pillows and blankets to aid the victims of typhoon Ompong situated in Cordillera Administrative Region.
This activity is in compliance to the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Customs bureau to give to the DSWD BOC-seized goods as aid to the thousands of families affected by typhoon Ompong.