The Bureau of Customs seized more than five kilos of “dextropropoxyphene” a regulated drug and known as a ‘downer’at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.
BOC-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said the confiscated parcel, which contains 5.376 kilos or 7,999 capsules of downer drugs, was consigned to a certain Sandeep Kumar.
Dextropropoxyphene is a mild narcotic analgesic, less potent than codeine, and closely related to methadone and is used as an antitussive (cough suppressant).
Officials of the Customs Anti- Illegal Drugs Taskforce and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed that the capsules were indeed “dextropropoxyphene.”
“The seizure is the result of the 100% examination conducted by BOC examiners as part of BOC Commissioner’s directive to inspect and clear BOC facilities of abandoned and overstaying parcels,” the BOC said in a statement.
Talusan reminded the public to ensure that all goods they import have the necessary permits and also warned that importing such drugs must be in compliance with and permitted by the Food and Drug Administration.
The latest seizure bolsters the BOC’s commitment to curb the smuggling of illegal and prohibited drugs into the country.
Customs personnel have been apprehending illegal drug shipments in compliance to the Bureau of Customs commissioner’s directive to secure the borders and the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Recently, the authorities intercepted smuggled parcels of ecstasy pills worth P23 million also at CMEC.
The shipments with different consignees came from Netherlands and Belgium and were misdeclared as coffee beans and granules, fishing bath, energy saving LED light, and Disney – Pixar brand child toys and pillows.
The authorities placed the parcels under physical examination and discovered seven packages containing 13,824 tablets of ecstasy.