Drug traders use mail, parcel services

CLARK FREEPORT -- Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Chief Aaron Aquino said the number of interception of illegal drugs via courier services rose to 775 percent, from four in 2017 to 35 incidences in 2018.

For the period, mail and parcel interdiction operations in airports and seaports were conducted leading to the seizure of 94.67 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu,” 16,713 pieces of ecstasy tablets, and 1,109.5 grams of marijuana kush, a hybrid marijuana, with a total estimated market value of P672,161,877.88, and the arrests of consignees.

“Out of the interdiction operations conducted, 31 were interception of packages containing illegal drugs that originated from California, USA,” Aquino noted.

Aquino attributed the increase in the interception of drug-laden parcels to the enhanced capability of PDEA personnel to detect them. PDEA agents assigned in the airports and seaports have undergone X-ray cargo screening training conducted by the Office of the Transportation Security (OTS). “They regularly conduct K9 sweeping and parcel screening on all cargo terminals nationwide,” he said.

To stop drug smuggling using vulnerable seaports and airports across the country, PDEA also established three Airport Interdiction Units (AIUs), three International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Groups (IADITGs), and 12 Seaport Interdiction Units (SIUs) in its regional offices.

Since 2015, the total estimated market value of illegal drugs concealed inside packages that were intercepted by PDEA, with the support of local law enforcement agencies and foreign counterparts, amounted to P1,126,797,518.

“PDEA remains vigilant to ensure packages containing illegal drugs are intercepted and kept from being delivered,” the PDEA chief said, adding that the agency is thankful for the participation of the courier service providers in the successful interception of the contraband.

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