Authorities intercepted a parcel containing suspected ecstasy tablets valued at approximately ?3.63 million during an interdiction operation the other day on at around 10:50 a.m. at Port Area, Manila.
The operation was conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Seaport Interdiction Unit (PDEA-SIU) at the Port of Manila, in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Postal Corporation at Surface Mail Exchange Department (SMED), Philippine Postal Corp., located at 2nd Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila.
According to the report submitted by PDEA RO NCR, during the scanning of the parcel, the Bureau of Customs x-ray inspector noticed that the parcel contained a suspicious substance. To verify, it underwent a K9 inspection which yielded a positive indication of the presence of dangerous drugs. Eventually, authorities decided to open the parcel for a thorough investigation, where they found 2,136 dark gray tablets suspected to be ecstasy. It was concealed in white plastic bottles and was shipped from Germany, misdeclared as Vitamins.
The shipper and intended recipient are currently under investigation. Appropriate charges will be filed for Republic Act No. 9165 violations, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Drug evidence will be submitted to PDEA Laboratory Service for laboratory examination.
