THE Bureau of Customs – Port of NAIA announced the recovery of assorted illegal drugs from several abandoned parcels weighing more than 15 kilos valued at ₱89.2 million.
District Collector Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa, in a report to Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, said the contraband was recovered last November 6 from 12 parcels that arrived from Thailand, India, the United States, and the Netherlands.
Mapa reported that the seized items include 11.241 kilograms of shabu with an approximate value of ₱76,438,800; 1.563 kilograms of suspected marijuana Kush valued at ₱1,563,000; and 2.232 kilograms of suspected Ketamine valued at ₱11,160,000.
The suspected illegal drugs were concealed in clothing, food and tea packages, wooden containers, a metal pulley, a handbag, and a deep fryer.
The parcels were declared to contain clothing, toys, household items, automotive parts, and gifts, the official added.
The operation was led by BOC-NAIA, in coordination with the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and other government agencies.
Mapa also stressed their vigilance against the entry of illegal drugs complies with the directive of
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for all ports of entry to strengthen their security preparedness against illegal drug smuggling.
“I commend BOC-NAIA for its thorough inspection of these shipments. I also extend my gratitude to the PDEA and our other partner agencies.
“Through this cooperation, we are able to intercept parcels containing contraband before any concealed illegal drugs reach our communities,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said in his congratulatory message to Collector Mapa.