International Parcels Reveal P43.76 Million Worth of Suspected Illegal Drugs
INTERNATIONAL PARCELS – A routine cargo screening operation in Pasay City led to the discovery of suspected illegal drugs valued at nearly P44 million hidden inside eight abandoned international parcels.
Authorities intercepted eight abandoned inbound parcels containing suspected illegal drugs valued at approximately P43.76 million at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City on Friday.
The operation was conducted by the Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as part of efforts to prevent illegal narcotics from entering the country through international mail shipments.
According to the initial information, the parcels originated from seven countries, namely Mexico, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Malaysia, and Belgium. The packages were addressed to recipients in the provinces of Cavite, Tarlac, and Laguna.
Personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) first identified the suspicious contents through cargo X-ray screening. The shipments subsequently underwent K-9 inspection by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), followed by a manual examination to verify the suspected illegal substances.
The inspection led to the discovery of several types of suspected prohibited drugs, including approximately 5,222 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu; 261 grams of suspected cocaine; and 482 tablets believed to contain ecstasy or MDMA.
Authorities also recovered around 1,047 grams of suspected marijuana kush and 1,001 grams of suspected ketamine from the intercepted shipments.
Based on the reported valuation, the seized shabu, cocaine, and ecstasy had a combined standard drug price of P37,712,300. Meanwhile, the suspected marijuana kush and ketamine were estimated to have a combined street value of P6,052,000.
Together, the confiscated substances carried an estimated total value of P43,764,300, or nearly P43.76 million.
The parcels were reportedly abandoned, allowing authorities to intercept the shipments before they could reach their listed destinations. The discovery highlights the role of coordinated inspections and cooperation among law enforcement agencies in detecting suspected illegal drugs concealed in international cargo and mail deliveries.
The operation involved multiple screening procedures, from X-ray examination to K-9 detection and physical inspection, demonstrating how different security measures can help identify potentially dangerous shipments.
Authorities continue to rely on inter-agency coordination to monitor suspicious packages and prevent prohibited substances from being distributed within the country. The seized materials were identified as suspected illegal drugs, pending the appropriate confirmatory procedures.
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