Unclaimed parcels at NAIA yield cocaine, MJ

SEVERAL unclaimed parcels were ordered seized at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after examination revealed they contain illegal drugs.

NAIA district collector Atty. Yasmin Mapa, in her report Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, said one parcel containing several steel black bolts declared as ‘hardware’ was found to contain some 2.452 kilos of cocaine worth P14.825 million.

Mapa noted the parcel was sent from the Wilmington, California, USA and has been pending at the NAIA Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) since January 19, 2024.

She added that six other parcels were also intercepted at the CMEC declared as ‘various personal items’ but were found to contain a total of 1.307 kilos of marijuana valued at P1.830 million.

Mapa said “appropriate charges” for violation of the county’s customs laws and RA 9165 are being prepared against the consignees indicated in the parcels.

The discovery of the illegal drugs follows the discovery and seizure of some 3 kilos of shabu worth more than P20 million last March 25, 2024 also at the NAIA and the arrest of the claimant (related story here).