BOC-Clark intercepts P20.7-M Ketamine

The Bureau of Customs - Port of Clark said it intercepted an an inbound shipment from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, bound for Valenzuela City containing P20.7 million of suspected ketamine.

The shipment underwent regular customs clearance procedures but was flagged after suspicious images were detected through the BOC’s X-Ray Inspection Project, prompting a full physical examination.

Declared as a “compact ceramic fan,” the shipment was found to contain seven transparent plastic bags filled with a white crystalline substance suspected to be ketamine weighing approximately 4,140 grams.

Initial screening using a spectrometer yielded a “special k" reading, indicating the possible presence of ketamine. Representative samples were subsequently turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for laboratory analysis and confirmatory testing.

The operation was carried out in through the coordinated efforts of the Enforcement and Security Service–Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, and X-Ray Inspection Project.