THOUSANDS of pieces of ecstasy were seized by joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-National Capital Region and PDEA Pampanga Provincial Office, Bureau of Customs, Philpost Inspectorate Service and the local police in a controlled delivery operation inside the Mabalacat City Post Office on Thursday afternoon, March 18.
Based on initial investigation, the illegal drugs were sent in from Germany by a certain Keven Owen and were consigned to one Zhyelle Marquez Ancheta whose address is in Mabalacat City.
The package, however, was claimed by a certain Agatha Palen, 27, of Mabalacat City, who was authorized in writing by the consignee to claim the package.
Immediately after signing the documents for claiming the package, authorities arrested Palen and secured the illegal drugs inside the parcel.
A total of 3,100 pieces of ecstasy with a street value of P6.2 million, as well as the Philpost official acknowledgement receipt; one registry notice; consignee's authorization letter and photocopy of identification card; one parcel delivery notice; and signature record from the courier service were recovered as evidence during the operation.
Ancheta and Palen will both face charges for importation of dangerous drugs into the country.