BOC sets guidelines on foreign packages

CEBU, Philippines - Postal offices in Cebu are directed to be more vigilant in the profiling and examination of foreign parcels amidst reports of smuggling illegal drugs through postal services.

In a memorandum dated April 11, Dr. Wivina Pumatong, officer in charge of the Bureau of Customs – Port of Cebu Foreign Parcel Unit, said that in case a parcel is deemed suspicious, examination must be done in her presence and with representatives of the consignee, BOC’s Enforcement and Security Services, and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service.

The memorandum was issued to the head of the postal offices in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City and the Regional Mail Distribution Center in Mandaue City and was coursed through the Philippine Postal Service Central Mail Distribution Center in Manila.

If a suspected foreign parcel is found positive or yielded illegal drugs, an incident report shall be submitted the BOC district collector, the memorandum reads.

The memorandum added that the subject foreign parcel shall be marked and sealed with the signatures of those who witnessed the examination and be safe kept by the postal staff in charge prior to the issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention to be issued by the district collector.

Last April 2,  BOC and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in cooperation with the Philippine Postal Corporation nabbed a major supplier of “Ecstacy” tablets whose foreign parcel containing 500 tablets of “Ecstacy” amounting to P750,000 was course through the PPSCMDC in Manila.

 February this year, BOC also seized 60 kilos of Ativan, an anti-anxiety drug, Valium and other medicines that were course through the PPSCMDC in Pasay City reportedly coming from Pakistan. The shipment was declared as shoes and used clothing.  (FREEMAN)