‘Party drugs,’ high-grade MJ worth millions seized at CMEC

THE Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), in collaboration with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), successfully intercepted a parcel containing illegal drugs valued at more than P13.5 million at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC), Pasay City, last June 7, 2024.

Port of NAIA district collector, Atty. Yasmin Mapa, in her report to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, noted the seizure at CMEC follows the seizure of more than P4.5 million worth of high-grade (Kush) marijuana at the same facility last May 29.

Mapa said the latest shipment, declared as “canned food and fruits” came from Denmark consigned to an unnamed resident from Taguig City.

On examination, Mapa said the parcel was found to contain 5,003 pieces of ‘Ecstasy’ pills and 998 grams of Ketamine, both known as ‘party drugs.’

In the May 29 incident, Mapa said the parcel, which originated from Toronto, Canada, was misdeclared as “gifts” consigned to an individual from Quezon City.

The official added the unnamed recipient of the party drugs was immediately apprehended after trying to claim the parcel while the recipient of the marijuana would undergo further investigation prior to the filing of appropriate charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or RA 9165, in relation to RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.