MANILA -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday has turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) several parcels containing dangerous drugs worth over PHP128 million intercepted at the Surface Mail Exchange Department (SMED) in Delpan, Port Area, Manila.
According to Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, the five parcels containing various kinds of medicines with an estimated total value of PHP128,932,000, is the current biggest seizure of such items.
“The price could even double because we only based our estimates on the available price as seen from the internet. This will even be higher when sold in the black market,” Lapeña said in a statement.
All parcels came from Pakistan and arrived on different dates at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) Warehouse in NAIA. CMEC then forwarded the parcels to SMED for proper examination.
The first four boxes arrived on January 4. One parcel consigned to Peter Parcon with address at #415 Pascual St. San Dionisio, Paranaque City was seized after BOC agents found 37,820 tablets of Valium, 1,290 tablets of Temazepam, and 6.37 kilograms of unlabeled tablets. A certain Nasrin Akhtar was identified as the sender.
Also seized was a box sent by Qaiser Mehmood Poutt and consigned to Jocelyn Villarino after Customs personnel discovered 20,600 tablets of valium, 8,990 tablets of Pinnix (Alprozalam), 5,990 tablets of Madalin, 1,980 tablets of Stilnox (Zolpidem), and 8.62 kilograms of unlabeled tablets.
Two more boxes of various medicines suspected to be dangerous drugs were sent by a certain Zahid Hussain and consigned to Rosalie Rosales. The BOC agents found 64,450 tablets of 10mg Valium.
The parcels were seized after it underwent X-ray scanning and physical examination.
Likewise, Customs examiners discovered another parcel containing 5,990 tablets of Mogadon, 19,790 tablets of 10mg valium, and 16,790 tablets of 5mg Valium.
The shipment, declared as garments, arrived on January 10 and was sent by Imran Abbas. It was consigned to Lucy Marpuri and Dang Solvino.
The parcels were intercepted through the joint efforts of BOC postal examiners and Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Taskforce.
They were seized in violation of pertinent provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
The Customs chief noted that the consignees will also face charges for unlawful importation of various pharmaceutical products listed under RA 9165.
"We have been warning these illegal traders and importers. We will give you a hard time. Stop these attempts of smuggling drugs to the country. The Bureau of Customs remains on guard against all forms of illegal importations," Lapeña added. (PNA)
