The Bureau of Customs Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) intercepted at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City five inbound parcels containing different dangerous drugs misdeclared as snacks, bottles, clothes, gifts and sleeping bags on March 17, 2023.
Due to suspicious images seen by Customs x-ray officers, physical examinations were conducted by Customs Examiners on the five inbound parcels which yielded more or less 2,738.5 grams of marijuana (Kush), 17 ml of liquid marijuana, 2,700 grams of marijuana gummies, 665 grams of marijuana, and 2,899 pieces of ecstasy with total estimated street value of PhP 9,892,700.00 as confirmed by the PDEA.
Both shippers and consignees are currently undergoing investigation by PDEA for initiation of corresponding inquest proceedings for the violation of RA 9165 and RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization Act (CMTA).
Just last March 16, 2023, Customs- NAIA also intercepted four outbound and one inbound separate parcels containing different dangerous drugs at warehouses in Pasay City.
As confirmed by the PDEA team, the parcels yielded 5 grams of shabu, assorted Alprazolam and Zolpidem, 100 tablets of Mogadon and 1 gram of marijuana.
The BOC-NAIA, under the guidance of Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, remains committed to protecting the country against smuggling attempts along the borders, aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., said NAIA District Collector Mimel Talusan.
Customs NAIA with different mandates will heighten its vigilance in border protection efforts, meeting revenue targets and balancing with trade facilitation, Talusan added. (JERRY S. TAN)
