P17M in illegal drugs seized in Clark

ILLEGAL drugs with a street value of at least P17 million were seized by joint operatives of the Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark (BoC-PoC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Customs authorities reported on Thursday that two suspected consignees and three of their companions were also arrested in connection with the illegal importation of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) , commonly known as “ecstasy”, a prohibited party drug.

Clark District Collector Ruby Alameda said hot goods, declared as foot massagers, arrived at Clark in two separate shipments from the Netherlands.

According to Alameda, the shipments were already put on alert status prior to their arrival following intelligence information that they contain illegal drugs.

A thorough physical examination, the two shipments yielded a total of 4.51 kilograms of ecstacy tablets.

The first shipment contained five packs of ecstasy tablets with an estimated weight of 2.3 kilograms concealed at the bottom and in between the four walls of the box, while the second shipment with an estimated weight of 2.21 kilograms was found wrapped in a black colored package inside a Shiatsu foot massager.

Following the findings, Alameda said that she immediately issued warrants of seizure and detention (WSDs) against the shipments for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Subject shipments were turned over to PDEA for proper disposition.

Customs authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) also intercepted a similar illegal shipment at the Central Mail Exchange Center warehouse in Pasay City.

Found in seven packages were a total of 13,824 tables of ecstasy with an estimated street value of P23.5 million.

Records show that the subject shipments originated from the Netherlands and Belgium and were misdeclared as coffee, energy saving lights, and pillows for kids, among others.

Source: TheManila Times