P5-M ‘ecstasy’ pills from Netherlands seized

BY AARON RECUENCO

Anti-narcotics agents seized some P5 million worth of ecstasy from a man who received the popular party drugs through a package sent via the Philpost Central Office in Manila.

Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the 2,878 pieces of ecstasy pills with standard drug price of P4,892,000 came from The Netherlands.

“The party drugs were concealed inside a box of clothes and shoes shipped by a certain Mary Lumbao Edwards from the Netherlands and consigned to Susan Lumbao of Malate, Manila,” said Sinas.

Sinas said the operation stemmed from a tip-off about the arrival of a parcel containing illegal drugs. An intelligence buildup was then conducted until both the PNP-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) came up with more detailed information.

At 12:30 p.m. on Monday, PDEG and PDEA agents secretly positioned at the Philpost Central Office and later a man arrived and claimed the package. It was then that the arrest was announced.

Sinas identified the arrested suspect as 26-year-old RonRon Salonga. He is now facing a case of violation of Section 4, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA No. 10863 or Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Aside from the parcel containing ecstasy, seized from him were the authorization letter and photocopy of ID of the consignee, Susan Lumbao, some identification cards, parcel delivery notice and sales invoice.

“The PNP, as an active member of the NAIA-IADITG, will remain vigilant to thwart any attempt to illegally import prohibited drugs, unregistered pharmaceutical products and other restricted and regulated goods brought into the country without the proper clearance,” said Sinas.