Man held over P2 million ketamine inside candle package at Clark port

ANGELES CITY — Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Luzon (PDEA 3) arrested late Thursday (May 18) the claimant of a package containing P2,120,000 worth of ketamine that arrived recently at Clark Freeport.

In a statement, PDEA 3 identified the package claimant as 23-year-old Danilo de Guzman alias “John Vincent Cruz” who resides in Sampaloc, Manila.

The suspect was arrested at his residence during a controlled delivery operation after receiving the package from undercover PDEA agents who posed as delivery personnel of a courier company.

Glen Guillermo, PDEA 3 public information officer, said the package that arrived at the Port of Clark from Poland on May 14 was declared to contain rose candles.

“Ketamine is a dangerous drug classified as a hallucinogen. It can sedate, incapacitate, and can cause short-term memory loss,” the PDEA 3 said.

The sting operation that led to the claimant’s arrest was conducted by PDEA 3, PDEA Clark Airport Interdiction Unit, and the Bureau of Customs Port of Clark.

“A charge for violation of Section 4 (importation of dangerous drugs) of Republic Act 9165 will be filed against the arrested claimant,” PDEA 3 said. INQ

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