BOC-NAIA, NAKASABAT NG P6.4-M HALAGA NG ILIGAL NA DROGA SA CMEC

Nakasabat ang Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), kasama ang Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), ng iligal na drogang nagkakahalaga ng higit P6 milyon mula sa limang unclaimed inbound parcels sa Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC), Pasay City.

Ayon kay BOC spokesman Atty. Chris Noel Bendijo, ang parcels ay mula Canada at France, at idineklara bilang ordinary consumer items gaya ng gifts, toys, clothes at personal goods.

“During inspection and profiling procedures, Customs personnel noted irregularities and concealment indicators that prompted a more thorough examination of the shipments addressed to recipients in Pampanga, Zambales, and Cagayan de Oro City. Examination of the parcels led to the discovery of approximately 946 grams of suspected marijuana Kush, 606 tablets and 789 grams of suspected MDMA or ecstasy, 10 grams of suspected ketamine, 114 grams of suspected cocaine, and 184 grams of unidentified brown substances with a combined estimated value of P6,457,550,” ani Bendijo.

Nadiskubre din ang mga concealment methods gaya ng pagsingit ng droga sa de lata, food packaging, foil pouches, wax papers at containers na kunwari ay common household items.

Ang kinumpiskang parcels ay itinurnover sa PDEA para sa laboratory examination, case build-up at paghaharap ng kaso para sa paglabag ng Republic Act No. 9165 o the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, in relation to Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Tiniyak ni Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno ang commitment BOC “to strengthening enforcement operations and sustaining close coordination with partner agencies to prevent the use of international mail and cargo channels for drug trafficking activities.”

Ayon kay Bendijo, “under the leadership of District Collector Atty. Yasmin Mapa, BOC-NAIA continues to enhance its border control measures and intelligence-driven operations to protect the country’s ports of entry from illegal drugs and other prohibited goods. (JERRY S. TAN)