The Bureau of Customs seized more than P1.7-billion worth of smuggled drugs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport following its intensified campaign on dangerous contraband and anti-social goods at the airport this year.
The latest apprehension was the P1.8-million shipment of diazepam (Valium) and nitrazepam (Mogadon) which was intercepted at the Paircargo warehouse in Pasay City.
Import documents showed that the cargo was shipped by a certain “Muztaza and brother” from Pakistan and was misdeclared as “Health Care Products”.
But Customs examiners found a total of 35,345 tablets of valium and mogadon which were described as addictive and highly regulated drugs by the 1971 United Nations Single Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
Investigation showed that the tablets were imported without the required License to Operate and Certificate of Product Registration from the Food and Drugs Authority, and Import Permit from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The seizure brings to 43 the total number of drug apprehension made by the Customs – Port of NAIA under the supervision of district collector Carmelita Talusan which has been active in intercepting illegal drugs both in passenger terminals and air parcels.
Talusan attributed their accomplishments to her men and the continuing support of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.
“Since January 2020, in pursuit of the anti-illegal drugs campaign of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, BoC-NAIA with the active partnership of PDEA and NAIA-IADITG already intercepted 43 different shipments of illegal drugs with a total value of P1.72 billion,” she said.
Most of the seized drugs were shabu, ecstasy, cocaine and kush marijuana coming from China, United States and European countries.
Talusan said the men and women of BOC-NAIA are focused not only in doing their best to meet their revenue target but also in protecting the borders.
“Attempts to bring in and out prohibited goods are forewarned since Customs NAIA is aggressively monitoring all parcels and baggage in the port,” said Talusan.
Since January 2020, the bureau has intercepted 43 different shipments
of illegal drugs with a total value of P1.72 billion.