Approximately P16 million worth of ketamine and dried marijuana, or "kush," were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City, the agency reported on Friday.
The contraband was discovered in several international parcels through the efforts of the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
According to the report, authorities confiscated around 3,025 grams of ketamine valued at P15,125,000 and 858 grams of high-grade marijuana kush worth P1,201,200.
One parcel from Poland concealed five plastic bags of ketamine inside a coffee maker. Other parcels from the United States and Thailand were found to contain 240 grams and 618 grams of kush, respectively, both hidden in boxes.
The packages were flagged during x-ray scanning after showing suspicious images, which prompted a thorough physical inspection. Upon examination, authorities uncovered the concealed illegal substances.
No individuals claimed the parcels by filing a Goods Declaration within the 30-day regulatory period, resulting in their classification as implicitly abandoned.
District Collector Yasmin Mapa emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in curbing drug smuggling attempts.
“These operations reflect our commitment to proactive enforcement and coordination with our law enforcement counterparts in stopping illegal drugs at the border,” Mapa said.