CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Thousands of suspected ecstasy tablets worth P17 million from the Netherlands were seized by combined elements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Clark, Police Regional Office-Central Luzon Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) and the local police in a "controlled delivery" operation in Lubao town over the weekend.
PDEA Central Luzon Director Christia Frivaldo said the operation stemmed from two parcels that arrived at the Port of Clark from the Netherlands, which were consigned to certain Joshua Bautista and Charmaine Valencia Bacani on August 8.
Frivaldo said BOC-Port of Clark and PDEA Clark Interdiction Unit traced the said parcels on suspicion that it contained illegal drugs.
Operating teams then pursued an operation at a gasoline station in said town which resulted in the arrest of five suspects, he added.
Controlled delivery is a technique used when a consignment of illicit drugs is detected and allowed to go forward under the control and surveillance of law enforcement officers to secure evidence against the organizers of such illicit drug traffic.
During the said operation, five suspects identified as Joshua Bautista, 20; William Valencia, 41; Raphy Quiboloy, 30; Patrick Bagang, 35; and Katrina Legaspi, 36, were arrested.
Authorities recovered a total of 10,000 suspected ecstasy tablets amounting to P17-million.
Suspects will be facing charges for violation of Section 4 (importation of dangerous drugs) of the Republic Act 9165 against the suspects.