Ecstasy worth over P8M found in coffee bean boxes at Clark port —Customs

Authorities found ecstasy tablets worth P8.314 million in boxes of coffee beans shipped at the Port of Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Monday.

In a statement, the BOC said the 4,891 tablets of ecstasy or “party drugs” were mixed with the coffee beans.

“A physical examination of the shipment revealed one box of espresso capsules and three boxes of coffee beans. The ecstasy tablets were concealed among the coffee beans inside the three boxes, which had been shipped from the Netherlands,” the BOC said.

According to the BOC, the shipment with illegal items was intercepted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“Samples were turned over to PDEA for chemical analysis, confirming that the tablets contained methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy,” it added.

The BOC said the shipment was flagged as "suspicious" in an x-ray inspection and then was subjected to a K9 inspection, which confirmed the presence of illegal drugs.

A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the shipment for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“The Bureau of Customs reaffirms its commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by remaining vigilant against the importation of illegal drugs and hazardous substances into the country,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News