The Bureau of Customs-Port of NAIA, in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as part of the NAIA-Inter-agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG), on July 18, 2022 conducted a controlled delivery operation in Cebu City and arrested a claimant of P5 million worth of ecstasy.
The package which was declared as women’s clothes and originated from the Netherlands, was discovered by Customs examiners and enforcement group and found to contain 2,984 pieces of ecstasy with an estimated value of P5,072,800.
In coordination with the Regional PDEA and Law Enforcement agencies, the team successfully arrested the claimant for possible violation of RA 9165, also known as the Dangerous Drugs Act and RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The BOC-NAIA, in partnership with NAIA-IADITG and PDEA, remains active in intercepting illegal drugs and protecting the borders. From 2019, there were 31 drug-related busts, 43 drug busts in 2020 and 57 drug busts in 2021.
The BOC-NAIA under District Collector Carmelita Talusan continues to tighten border security efforts as it continues to strengthen its partnership with other agencies not only on illegal drugs but on other goods which are illegally imported under the CMTA.
Under the direction and reform initiatives of BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero on border protection, BOC-NAIA has remained in the forefront of the Bureau’s anti-smuggling campaign which has earned praises from other international Customs Organizations. (Baby Cuevas)
