Customs finds P15-M ‘shabu,’ valium in parcels at Naia

UNHOLY FINDC ustoms Commissioner Isidro Lapeña (center) on Thursday shows a pack of “shabu” (crystal meth) found concealed in a parcel for religious images. —Photo courtesy of BOC

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted some P15.4 million worth of illegal and regulated drugs that arrived on different dates at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and were found concealed in parcels of clothes, sports items, massage equipment and religious images.

BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and Naia district collector Carmelita Talusan on Thursday turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) more than 2 kg of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth around P14 million, a dozen plastic containers with marijuana, and several boxes of valium and Mogadon tablets worth over P1.4 million.

Mogadon or nitrazepam is used for short-term treatment of insomnia and other sleeping disorders.

According to Lapeña, the drugs were found inside five packages that arrived on different dates at the Central Mail Exchange Center and FedEx warehouses at Naia.

The parcels were flown in from Thailand, the United States, Pakistan and Africa, and their senders were identified as Naphet Inhin, Kaggwa Godfrey, Gino Zerimar and Muhammad Sajid Raza.

Lapeña identified the consignees as Melinda Dacallos of Caloocan City; Joseph Manialac of Angeles City; Logy Ramirez of Batao, Ilocos Norte; Edward dela Rosa of Las Piñas City; and Rico Delicano of Cotabato City.

He said they would face charges of violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE