Authorities seized around 994 grams of suspected morphine and assorted hemp products in separate operations at the Port of Clark on 13 January.

The operations were carried out by the Clark International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (Clark AIADITG), a joint team that includes Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) Airport Interdiction Unit and Pampanga Provincial Office, the Bureau of Customs — Port of Clark, the NBI Pampanga District Office, and PNP Aviation Security Unit 3 and PDEG SOU3.

The first seizure involved a shipment of suspected morphine from England that arrived at the port on 9 January. It was intercepted around 10:52 a.m. during a routine inspection. PDEA director general Isagani R. Nerez warned, “Morphine is a powerful pain reliever but also a dangerous drug due to its high potential for abuse, dependency, and serious side effects, including life-threatening respiratory depression and death. Any attempt to smuggle this substance into the country is a serious threat to public health and safety.”

The second shipment, arriving from Wilmington, United States, on 6 January, contained suspected hemp products: 100 gummies, 180 gel capsules, and 60 other capsules. Hemp is a cannabis variety with lower levels of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana.

Both parcels were flagged by a PDEA Narcotics Detection Dog, confirming the presence of illegal substances. All seized items were immediately turned over to the PDEA National Headquarters Laboratory Service for forensic examination and confirmatory testing.

Nerez said the successful operations “reflect the strong coordination among our law enforcement partners and our firm resolve to stop illegal drugs at the country’s borders and protect the public from their dangers.”