By Liza Soriano
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga – The Bureau of Customs – Port of Clark uncovered P10.36 million worth of Ketamine concealed in three acupoint massage twisters on January 30 and arrested its claimant in Pasig City.
The BOC discovered the illegal drugs in a shipment containing a “fitness expander, massage twister, trimmer, push-up bar, yoga block” on January 30 from Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Acting on a piece of derogatory information from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the shipment was subjected to mandatory x-ray scanning, which showed a suspicious image, prompting the conduct of a physical examination.
Three boxes of acupoint massage twisters with eight transparent plastic pouches containing the white powdered substance with a gross weight of 2,072 grams were discovered.
Representative samples taken to PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of Ketamine, a dangerous drug under the Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The Port of Clark immediately issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the shipment for violating Sections 118 (g), 119 (d), and 1113 par. f, i & l (3 & 4) of R.A. No. 10863 in relation to Section 4 of R.A. No. 9165.
On January 31, joint elements from the Port of Clark and PDEA conducted a controlled delivery operation to the consignee’s address in Pasig City, leading to the arrest of a Chinese claimant.
OIC District Collector John Simon said the port remains consistent in its anti-illegal drugs campaign.
He commended the port’s personnel for implementing strict measures and strengthening intelligence and profiling capabilities to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs.
The BOC, under the leadership of Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, remains steadfast in following the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to reinforce its anti-illegal drug measures to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and other dangerous substances into the country. (Amado Inigo/MTVN)
