Bad packaging exposes fragile contraband at bus terminal

MANILA, Philippines—It was the stink that gave them away.

Police seized 32 boxes of chemicals believed to be ingredients for the manufacture of illegal drugs at a bus terminal in Quezon City on Thursday afternoon after waiting passengers complained of the noxious smell emitted by one of the cartons.

When the package was opened for inspection, broken bottles of chemicals stung the noses of the lawmen.

“It was declared to be P20,000 worth of used clothes, so it was loaded haphazardly, causing the bottles to break,” said Chief Supt. Richard Albano, Quezon City Police District director on Friday.

The contraband was recovered at the Araneta Center bus terminal in Cubao at around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, near the waiting area of the Isarog Bus Transit.

Some 30 minutes earlier, a Toyota Hilux was seen unloading the 32 boxes containing 408 bottles, Albano said.

Also recovered were beakers, graduated cylinders, hoses, flasks, and electric burners.

Senior Supt. Procopio Lipana, deputy director for operations, said it was apparent that the chemicals were to be used in making illegal drugs because of the presence of the glass equipment.

“We have yet to determine the value of the seized chemicals. We leave that to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency,” he said.

Cubao police station commander Supt. Ramon Pranada said they received complaints from passengers waiting for rides.

Pranada said they initially feared the boxes contained improvised explosives.

The boxes were to be delivered to someone identified only as Gerry of Masbate, based on the bill of loading from the bus firm. The same bill identified the sender as Jhony Lee.

“We will be trying to identify these two men to shed light on the seized contraband,” Lipana said.