The Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark, through its intensified border security measures and close coordination with CAIDTF, ESS, CIIS, XIP and PDEA, seized 5.4-million worth of Ecstasy tablets from Brussels, Belgium.
As the port remain in heightened alert status due to recent illegal drug apprehensions, a shipment declared as “Bass Booster” was subjected to x-ray scanning which showed images similar to that of the most recent seizure of Ecstasy found in coverings of a carton last January 22.
Physical examination was conducted that led to the findings of one (1) pc. JBL Bass Booster Speaker, four (4) packs self-sealing transparent plastic sachet (concealed in-between the four sides of the carton), containing around 3,215 pcs. of various tablets in three different forms and shapes suspected as “Ecstasy”.
The shipment was likewise subjected to PDEA K9 sniffing that gave positive indications of presence of illegal drugs. Subsequently, a field testing was conducted by CAIDTF Clark personnel through a Rigaku Ramman Chemical Analyzer which gave a positive result for the presence of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or Ecstasy.
Representative samples were taken from the tablets and turned over to PDEA for the conduct of chemical laboratory analysis which confirmed that said tablets were indeed Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or Ecstasy.
A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued against the subject shipment for violation of Sections 118 (g), 119 (d), and 1113 par. f, i & l of R.A. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to R.A. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. On February 28, 2022, said illegal drugs were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for proper disposition.
District Collector Alexandra Lumontad said that the Port is consistent in Commissioner Guerrero & PPRD’s anti-illegal drug campaign, citing that the numerous illegal drugs apprehensions in the port can be attributed to the efficient x-ray inspection as well as the profiling capabilities and familiarization of personnel on the declarations and modes used to smuggle these illegal drugs.
