MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC)–Port of Clark has seized two parcels containing ecstasy tablets worth more than ₱7 million, as authorities intensified border inspections at the close of the 2025 holiday season.
In a statement, the BOC said the interdiction was carried out in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Airport Interdiction Unit (PDEA-AIU), with personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) present during the operation.
The parcels, which originated from Austria and were both consigned to the same recipient in Davao City, arrived at an air express warehouse at Clark International Airport on December 24, 2025. They were flagged by the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) team for suspicious images, prompting a 100% physical examination.
Although declared as car mats, customs examiners discovered a total of 4,124 ecstasy tablets hidden inside the shipments. The first parcel contained 2,693 tablets valued at ₱4.59 million, while the second yielded 1,431 tablets estimated at ₱2.45 million.
Initial on-site presumptive drug tests conducted by PDEA operatives and using the BOC’s Rigaku handheld spectrometer indicated that the seized tablets were illegal drugs. Samples have since been submitted to PDEA for confirmatory laboratory analysis to determine their exact chemical composition, believed to be methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a dangerous drug under Republic Act No. 9165.
Pending laboratory confirmation, the BOC said it will issue a Warrant of Seizure and Detention for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, in relation to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
District Collector Jairus S. Reyes said the seizure underscores the bureau’s heightened vigilance, even during peak holiday periods.
“As we open 2026, this successful operation sends a clear message that the Bureau of Customs–Port of Clark does not let its guard down,” Reyes said, citing the directive of Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno.
Nepomuceno, for his part, said the BOC will continue to strengthen border protection through sustained inter-agency coordination.
“Our direction for 2026 is clear—stronger border protection, sustained vigilance, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the welfare of the Filipino people,” he said.
The BOC said the operation aligns with the administration’s push to curb the entry of illegal drugs into the country through tighter border enforcement and cooperation among law enforcement agencies. IORBITNEWS TEAM