The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), in coordination with the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), seized 14 abandoned parcels containing illegal drugs worth P56.01 million at a cargo warehouse in Pasay City.
Government agents intercepted the illegal packages after Customs personnel flagged the suspicious items during routine X-ray screenings before conducting physical examinations and K9 inspections.
Inspectors discovered thousands of grams of shabu, high-grade marijuana, liquid vape cartridges, and opium poppy inside the packages that originally came from various countries across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Smugglers hid the prohibited substances inside everyday consumer goods like water filters, a speaker, and assorted food items.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno issued a strong warning to criminal syndicates trying to use international courier services for smuggling.
“Sa mga nagtatangkang gamitin ang parcel at air cargo shipments para magpuslit ng ilegal na droga at iba pang kontrabando, malinaw ang aming mensahe: hindi kami magpapatinag. Patuloy naming pinapalakas ang aming monitoring at inspection systems, katuwang ang aming partner agencies, upang matiyak na nahaharang ang mga iligal na kargamento at mapanagot ang mga responsable.”
The seized items were officially turned over to the PDEA for laboratory testing and further investigation.