BOC seizes P2.5M worth of illegal drugs concealed in photo frames

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted P2.5 million worth of illegal drugs concealed in picture frames in the Port of Clark in Pampanga.

In a statement issued Friday, the BOC said it busted the shipment containing the illegal drugs from Madrid, Spain on June 21. It was declared to contain “Marco Dela Foto” or photo frames.

An X-ray scan on the freight goods, however, showed suspicious images that prompted a physical examination. Upon inspection, port officials found two large picture frames inside the cargo concealing 500 grams of white crystalline substance in-between the transparent polycarbonate plates.

The Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CADTF) conducted a field testing on the substance which indicated the presence of ketamine — a dangerous drug considered illegal in the country under Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”

The samples were taken and turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which confirmed it was indeed ketamine.

District Collector Alexandra Lumontad immediately issued a warrant and seizure detention against the shipment for violating Sections 118 (g), 119 (d), and 1113 (f) of R.A. No. 10863 in relation to Section 4 of R.A. No. 9165.

“The BOC, under the leadership of Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, will remain vigilant against prohibited drugs through an intensified drug interdiction campaign,” the customs agency said.—Sundy Locus/AOL/RSJ, GMA News