P16.9M worth of Ecstasy seized

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The illegal party drugs were concealed in four bed sheets from a shipment declared as “Bed Sheets, Lady Bag, Watch, Shoes, Cloth". Photo from the Bureau of Customs.
  • A government team apprehended illegal party drugs shipped from Belgium and which landed in Clark
  • The drugs were concealed in four bed sheets from a shipment declared as “Bed Sheets, Lady Bag, Watch, Shoes, Cloth”
  • Chemical laboratory analysis confirmed the tablets to be Ecstasy
  • A controlled delivery operation was conducted on the consignee’s address at Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City, resulting in arrest of the claimant

Illegal party drugs worth P16.9 million were seized on November 3.

A government team composed of the Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS )-Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF) and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) seized 9,917 and approximately 31 broken tablets of the party drugs also known as Ecstasy.

The illegal drugs were concealed in four bed sheets from a shipment declared as “Bed Sheets, Lady Bag, Watch, Shoes, Cloth” that originated from Brussels, Belgium and landed at the Port of Clark.

Upon physical examination, a Customs examiner noticed an unusual packaging wrapped around the bed sheets. When opened, colored tablets suspected to be Ecstasy were found. A K9 sweeping and initial field testing by CAIDTF & PDEA were conducted, and indicated the presence of illegal drugs. The samples were turned over to PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis. The tablets were confirmed to be methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or Ecstasy.

District Collector Alexandra Lumontad issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the shipment for violation of Sections 1400, 118 (g), 119 (d) and 1113 par. f, i & l (3 & 4) of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) in relation to RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

On November 5, 2021, a controlled delivery operation was conducted by the joint elements of PDEA, CAIDTF, ESS and CIIS on the consignee’s address at Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City, resulting in arrest of the claimant.

The illegal drugs will be turned over to PDEA pursuant to Customs Administrative Order No. 03-2020; the claimant will be subjected to inquest proceedings.