THE Bureau of Customs turned over more than P128 million worth of seized hallucinogenic and addictive drugs to the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency, the biggest single haul of dangerous drugs at the Surface Mail Exchange Department in Delpan, Port Area, Manila.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said seized were five parcels containing various kinds of dangerous drugs which came from Pakistan and consigned to different persons.
“The price could even double because we only based our estimates on the available price as seen from the internet. This will even be higher when sold in the black market,” Lapeña said.
The parcels arrived in the country only this January on different dates.
One parcel consigned to Peter Parcon and found 37,820 tablets of Valium, 1,290 tablets of Temazepam, and 6.37 kilograms of unlabeled tablets. A certain Nasrin Akhtar was identified as the sender.
Another box sent by Qaiser Mehmood Poutt and consigned to Jocelyn Villarino and discovered 20,600 tablets of valium, 8,990 tablets of Pinnix (Alprozalam), 5,990 tablets of Madalin, 1,980 tablets of Stilnox (Zolpidem), and 8.62 kilograms of unlabeled tablets.
“Two more boxes of various medicines suspected to be dangerous drugs were sent by a certain Zahid Hussain and consigned to Rosalie Rosales. The parcels were seized after it underwent x-ray scanning and physical examination. BOC agents found 64,450 tablets of 10mg valium,” he said.
The BoC also discovered 5,990 tablets of Mogadon, 19,790 tablets of 10mg valium, and 16,790 tablets of 5mg valium which was declared as garments were sent by Imran Abbas. They were consigned to Lucy Marpuri and Dang Solvino.
The consignees will also face charges for unlawful importation of various pharmaceutical products listed under RA 9165.
“We have been warning these illegal traders and importers. We will give you a hard time. Stop these attempts of smuggling drugs to the country. The Bureau of Customs remains on guard against all forms of illegal importations,” Lapeña added.