Drugs via mail intercepted

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has uncovered attempts to smuggle shabu and dried marijuana leaves by mail last July 28.

According to PDEA director general Undersecretary Anselmo Avenido, the shabu and marijuana leaves were discovered during an inspection conducted at the Dead Letter Office of the Philippine Postal Office.

Avenido said PDEA agents were alerted by Philpost employees who suspected that four mail envelopes could contain drugs.

When inspected, one envelope addressed to a Joseph Ricket of Siverburn House, Lothian Road, London, contained 0.70 grams of shabu in four plastic sachets. Another envelope addressed to April Gonzales of Brondby, Denmark contained four grams of shabu.

Another envelope addressed to Annabelle Sandoval also of Brondby, Denmark, yielded another four grams of shabu while the last envelope, addressed to Yamagochi Senayda of Osaka, Japan, contained 400 grams of dried marijuana leaves.

Avenido said mail and parcel services are major avenues for drug smuggling to and from the country.

PDEA also lauded Philpost for its prompt action as it urged other agencies to be vigilant in monitoring the traffic of illegal drugs. – Mike Frialde