The Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark, in close coordination with CAIDTF, ESS, CIIS, XIP & PDEA, busted another drug importation attempt as it seized 3054 pieces of Ecstasy tablets with an estimated street value of P5.2-million and arrested the consignee in Quezon City.
Acting on a reliable information, a shipment from Zaandam, Netherlands declared as “Solar Lights for Home Use” was put on hold upon its arrival on January 20, 2022 and was subjected to x-ray scanning and PDEA K9 sniffing which gave positive indications of possible presence of illegal drugs. Thereafter, the subject shipment was subjected to physical examination which led to the findings of three (3) pcs. Solar Lights, one (1) pc. Heating cushion and six (6) plastic pouch of suspected illegal drugs covered with duct tape hidden in between the linings of corrugated box. Further examination on six plastic pouch revealed 3054 pieces and more or less 10 grams of broken pieces of Blue and Pink tablets suspected to be Ecstasy.
A field testing was conducted by CAIDTF Clark personnel through a Rigaku Ramman Chemical Analyzer which gave a positive result for the presence of “Mixture of Cotton MDMA” or Ecstasy.
Representative samples were taken from the tablets and were 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 January 22, 2021, a controlled delivery operation was conducted by the joint elements of PDEA, CAIDTF, ESS & CIIS to the consignee’s address at Quezon City which resulted to the arrest of the claimant.
The subject illegal drugs were turned over to PDEA for proper disposition and the claimant will be subjected to inquest proceedings.
District Collector Alexandra Lumontad commended key personnel for the successful apprehension and stated that the Port of Clark, under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, will reinforce its border security measures and will remain consistent in its effort to curb illegal drugs smuggling in the country as mandated under President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
