Authorities confiscate P926,075 worth of misdeclared items

DAVAO CITY —The Bureau of Customs Port of NAIA (BOC-NAIA) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as part of the NAIA Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-DITG) on February 24, 2022, seized ecstasy tablets and cannabis oils worth Php 926,075.00 on the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC), Pasay City. 

A total of four shipments were intercepted and through stringent examination, procedures yielded the illegal substances. 

The first shipment originated from Germany which contained 394 pieces of ecstasy tablets with an estimated total amount of Php 669,800. The second shipment originated from the United States of America and was discovered to contain 425 grams of suspected cannabis and cannabis oils estimated to have a market value of P247,200. Another two shipments were also intercepted in FEDEX and DHL Warehouses which contained  Cannabis Oils which were declared as vitamins and vape cartridges containing cannabis extract. 

All shipments were turned over to PDEA for further investigation and profiling for violation RA10863 also known as the Customs  Modernisation and Tariff Act (CMTA) and RA9165 also known as the Comprehensive Drug Act of the Philippines. 

Last January 31, 2022, a claimant was arrested with the combined efforts of the NAIA-DITG for the illegal importation of parcels of cannabis oil amounting to an estimated value of Php 85,299.12. The Port of NAIA and BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero were also recognized by PDEA for their efforts in the successful campaign against illegal drugs in NAIA. 

In 2021, the Port of NAIA was able to conduct 57 successful drug-related busts in partnership with NAIA-Inter Agency Task Group, compared to the 31 drug busts in 2019, and 43 drug busts in 2020.

BOC-NAIA remains committed to supporting anti-illegal drug efforts as part of the directive of BOC Commissioner Rey. Leonardo B. Guerrero.