P15-million drugs seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized at least P15 million worth of illegal drugs in five parcels at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), officials said yesterday.

The parcels, which arrived at the Central Mail Exchange Center and the Fedex warehouse on separate dates, held 2.21 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, with a street value of P14 million, and P1.496 million worth of marijuana and anti-anxiety drugs Valium (diazepam) and Mogadon (nitrazepam).

One kilo of shabu was hidden in the frame of an image of Mother Mary. The parcel was sent from Wanda, South Africa and consigned to Joseph Mañalac of Angeles City, BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said in a press conference.

A parcel from Thailand, sent by Naphet Inhin to Melinda Dacalos of Caloocan City, contained a foot and calf massager and 1,018 grams of shabu.

A letter from the United States sent by Kaggwa Godfrey to Logy Ramirez of Batao, Ilocos Norte held .003 grams of shabu.

Also from the United States, Gino Zerimar sent boxing gloves and a football jersey along with 48 oil ampules and 12 containers of jelly marmalade laced with marijuana to Edward dela Rosa of Las Piñas City.

Muhammad Sajid Raza of Pakistan sent a box that contained clothes, pants, baby shoes and bedsheets as well as 69,870 tablets of Valium and Mogadon to Rico Delicano of Cotabato City.

BOC-NAIA district collector Mimel Talusan said they will monitor all packages that might contain illegal drugs or highly taxable items this Christmas season.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided an alleged  drug den in Barangay 36, Caloocan City on Wednesday and seized 10 grams of shabu with a street value of P68,000.

Carrying a search warrant, PDEA agents raided the house of Domingo de Guzman and arrested him, his wife Daisy, Marlon Galang, Normando Belgica, Angelito Bantay, Alejandro Belgica and a 16-year-old.

Student Kenneth Sapilan, 20, was arrested in a drug bust at the Quezon Memorial Circle Wednesday night. Police seized a kilo of marijuana, with a street value of P120,000, from him.

Junior Manibpel was arrested with 500 grams of shabu in a sting outside a fastfood restaurant in Rizal Park yesterday.

PDEA-National Capital Region director Joel Plaza said Manibpel is allegedly a distributor who can dispose of large volumes of illegal drugs to street pushers.

In San Juan, police arrested alleged drug pushers Maria Lourdes Canceran, 46, and Ramon Santos, 48, on Wednesday.

Twenty more persons were arrested for drug-related offenses in Quezon City. – With Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Romina Cabrera, Non Alquitran