The Bureau of Customs (BoC) is investigating the shipment of some 2,000 tablets of ecstasy worth P3 million that was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last May but has remained unclaimed.
Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF) Executive Officer for Operations Lt. Sherwin Andrada said that the illegal drugs contained in two parcels arrived on May 7 from Recklinghausen, Germany, and were detected by a sniffer dog.
The parcels, shipped by Legion Athletics Ltd., were originally declared as “vitamin supplements” but turned out to be around 2,000 tablets of ecstasy worth around P3 million.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), a tablet is worth around P1,750 to P2,000 and are most likely to be peddled in bars, clubs or parties in Metro Manila.
CAIDTF and PDEA are still investigating the consignee, a certain Darwin S. Bernardino of Novaliches, Quezon City.
However, BoC said the name is most likely a fake identity.
Authorities were waiting for the consignee to claim the parcel for his arrest, he may have caught wind that the parcel had been intercepted.
BoC officials said they are now also looking into different personalities suspected to be behind the shipment. They will be charged with violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), as amended, and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
The illegal drugs were turned over to PDEA and are now up for destruction.
Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, in a press conference, appealed to the public to stop using government facilities to import drugs.
Faeldon also said that they now have the names of five smugglers operating inside the Bureau. He said they have evidence against these smugglers and their identities will be revealed by the end of the month.