P3 million party drugs seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — At least P3 million worth of party drugs that arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recently were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, an official said yesterday.

BOC-NAIA district collector Mimel Talusan said a parcel from the Netherlands containing 1,681 ecstasy tablets with a street value of P2,857,700 arrived at the DHL warehouse. The tablets were hidden in a microwave oven consigned to a resident of Quezon City.

Another parcel containing 133 grams of high-grade kush marijuana valued at P159,600 arrived at the Central Mail Exchange Center from the United States. The marijuana was found in a metal toy box, wrapped in heavy plastic, consigned to a Pasay resident, according to CMEC acting subport collector Mark Almase.

Talusan said that both parcels were turned over to PDEA yesterday. The consignees face charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act in relation to Section 119 (restricted importation) and Section1401 (unlawful importation) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

In Caloocan, around 50 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with a street value of P340,000 were confiscated from Sherwin Soria, 41; Jennifer Regis, 39; Isabel de Guzman, 29; and Eugene Del, 38, in a sting staged by Quezon City police officers in Barangay 151, Caloocan on Monday.

Quezon City Police District chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Macerin said the suspects reportedly sold 25 grams of shabu for P40,000 to an undercover police officer.

In Quezon City, Edrian Canillas, 25, was arrested in a sting in Barangay Katipunan yesterday. Police seized six grams of shabu valued at P40,800 from the suspect.

The suspects are being held on charges of drug trafficking.