NABBED. Authorities account for the PHP8.5 million worth of liquid cocaine during a controlled delivery operation in Makati City on June 25, 2024. The BOC-Port of Clark on Friday (July 5) said the Colombian national who claimed the shipment was arrested in the operation. (Photo courtesy of BOC-Port of Clark)
MANILA – Authorities recently arrested the consignee of 1.6 kg. of liquid cocaine worth PHP8.5 million.
In a news release on Friday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Clark said its officers from and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) nabbed the recipient of the shipment, a Colombian national, in a controlled delivery operation in Makati City on June 25.
It said the suspect is undergoing custodial investigation by PDEA for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) in relation to RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).
The shipment declared as clothing products, which arrived on June 21, was the subject of a derogatory report from PDEA.
X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) personnel of the Port of Clark marked the same for physical examination due to unusual X-ray images.
K-9 sniffing also indicated the possible presence of illegal substance in the shipment.
After a physical examination, authorities found three plastic bottles of yellowish liquid substance.
Samples were subjected to field testing which read possible presence of “mixture of PET plastic, ephedrine and ethyl benzoate, cyclohexyl fentanyl, controlled product: opioid”.
The samples were turned over to PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis which confirmed that these substances contain cocaine, a dangerous drug under RA 9165, as amended.
A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the subject shipment for violation of Section 118 (g), 119 (d), and 1113 par. f, I, and l (3 and 4) of RA 10863. (PNA)
