Authorities intercept P17.04M worth of illegal drugs in 6 air parcels

An estimated P17.04 million worth of illegal drugs placed in six air parcels were intercepted on Friday by government authorities, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Saturday.

The air parcels involved were two outbound ones for New Zealand and four inbound ones from Mexico.

The operation was conducted by the BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).

Found inside two outbound air parcels for New Zealand declared to contain "Kix Shield Thick Foam" and "Kix Shield for Taekwondo" were white crystalline substance later confirmed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

The shabu weighed at least 828.8 grams and had an estimated value of P5.6 million.

Meanwhile, 1,676 grams of shabu were also found in four inbound parcels declared to have "tamarind ball" from Mexico. This had an estimated value of P11.4 million.

Three packages from the US were on the other hand found to have 44 cartridges containing cannabis oil.

Government operatives turned over the illegal drugs to PDEA for proper disposition.

The BOC said further investigation is ongoing to apprehend the people behind the illicit shipments.

Those found to be involved in the illegal shipments will be charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10863 (Customs Modernization And Tariff Act or CMTA), it added. —KG, GMA Integrated News