P1.2-B party drugs seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — A syndicate from Pakistan attempted to smuggle two million tablets of regulated drugs, with a street value of P1.2 billion, into the country, officials said yesterday.

Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the BOC and the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhlPost) seized the drugs as they arrived in parcels between Jan. 4 and 10 at the Central Mail Exchange Center at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The parcels were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday. 

Among the items recovered by the BOC were anti-anxiety drugs Valium (diazepam), Mogadon (nitrazepam), temazepam and Pinnix (alprazolam); Madalin (methylpenidate hydrochloride), a stimulant used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy; Stilnox (zolpidem), a sedative; and several kilos of unlabeled tablets.

These regulated drugs have been reported to be used recreationally.

Lapeña, who used to head the PDEA, said that to his knowledge this was the first time that a large volume of illegal drugs from Pakistan arrived in the country.

“These illegal drugs were shipped in through the PhlPost and they all came from Pakistan. They were sent through surface mail… These tablets have various recipients. It seems to be the work of a drug syndicate peddling or specializing in illegal drug tablets that could be used for party purposes,” Lapeña said.

PhlPost and BOC found 2,058,553 assorted tablets estimated to be worth P128.9 million but could fetch P1.2 billion on the streets.

A parcel containing 37,820 tablets of Valium, 1,290 tablets of temazepam and 6.37 kilos of unlabeled tablets was addressed to Peter Parcon of Parañaque City from Nasrin Akhtar.

A parcel sent by Qaiser Mehmood Poutt to Jocelyn Villarino contained 20,600 tablets of Valium, 8,990 tablets of Pinnix, 5,990 tablets of Madalin, 1,980 tablets of Stilnox and 8.62 kilos of unlabeled tablets.

Two parcels containg 64,450 tablets of 10-milligram (mg) Valium were sent by Zahid Hussain to Rosalie Rosales.

Imran Abbas sent Lucy Marpuri and Dang Solvino a parcel containing 5,990 tablets of Mogadon, 19,790 tablets of 10-mg Valium and 16,790 tablets of 5-mg valium. The parcel, declared to contain garments, arrived on Jan. 10.

Lapeña said they are still verifying the identity of the consignees, who face charges for unlawful importation of pharmaceutical products under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.