The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday reported the interception of an estimated P7 million worth of suspected ecstasy tablets concealed in inbound cargo parcels at the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

The interdiction took place at around 8 a.m. on 2 January, at a cargo-handling facility where operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)–Clark, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), and members of the Clark Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group inspected two inbound parcels originating from Innsbruck, Austria.

The shipments, which were bound for Davao City, yielded approximately 4,124 tablets of suspected ecstasy.

Authorities estimated the standard drug price of the seized items at P7,040,125. The PNP provided operational support during the inspection.

The seized tablets were secured, resealed, and placed under the custody of the Bureau of Customs before being turned over to PDEA-CRK for proper handling and case buildup in accordance with Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

No suspects were immediately arrested as investigations continue to identify the individuals and syndicates behind the shipment.

Authorities are also coordinating with international counterparts to trace the source and distribution network linked to the parcels.

PNP Chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez said the interception highlights continued monitoring of international cargo shipments at major transit points amid efforts to prevent the entry of illegal drugs into the country.

“For the PNP, preventing illegal drugs from reaching the streets is a clear duty that we continue to uphold through constant monitoring and enforcement,” he further stressed.