Over P7M worth of ecstasy seized in Pampanga initially declared as car mats — BOC

Two parcels containing more than P7 million worth of suspected ecstasy were seized in the Port of Clark in Pampanga, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced.

The BOC said the shipment, initially declared as car mats, originated from Austria and bound for Davao City under the same consignee. However, a physical examination on the cargo yielded a total of 4,124 ecstasy tablets, with an estimated total value of P7,040,125.

According to the customs personnel, the inspection was conducted  after the BOC’s X-ray team flagged the parcels for suspicious images.

Upon examination, the first parcel was found to contain 2,693 ecstasy tablets with an estimated value of P4,591,275, while the second yielded 1,431 ecstasy tablets valued at P2,448,850.

The seized tablets tested positive for illegal drugs during an initial on-site presumptive drug test but samples of it were submitted to PDEA for confirmatory laboratory examination.

Pending verification, the BOC said it will issue a warrant of seizure and detention for the parcels for  violation of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. — Sundy Locus/RSJ, GMA Integrated News