The Bureau of Customs (BOC)–Port of Clark, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Airport Interdiction Unit (PDEA-AIU), intercepted a shipment containing 5,062 grams of Ketamine, a dangerous drug, concealed inside a wooden cable reel declared as a “Data Cable Roll.” Valued at ₱25.3 million, the package originated from Belgium and was bound for San Rafael, Rizal.
The parcel arrived on July 24 and was flagged for physical examination due to irregularities in its declaration. On July 30, a PDEA K-9 unit detected the presence of illegal substances, leading to a full inspection. Authorities discovered six plastic pouches containing a white crystalline substance hidden inside a spray-foam-covered 19-kilogram wooden cable reel. Laboratory tests later confirmed it was Ketamine, a controlled substance under Republic Act No. 9165.
A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued for violations of Sections 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 (f), (i), and (l) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to RA 9165.
District Collector Jairus S. Reyes commended the alertness and profiling skills of BOC personnel. “The Port of Clark remains vigilant against drug smuggling attempts. Our work directly safeguards public health and safety,” he said.
BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s anti-drug campaign. “Smuggled narcotics are a serious threat. Every successful interdiction reaffirms our duty to protect Filipino lives,” he stated.
In related operations on July 29, the Port of Clark also intercepted two other illegal drug shipments. One, declared as Animal Food from Paris and bound for Quezon City, contained 52 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy) worth ₱265,200. Another, declared as Documents from Austria, held 52 grams of Ketamine valued at ₱260,000. Both were seized and are under further investigation.
These successful operations underscore the BOC–Port of Clark’s continued vigilance in securing the country’s borders against illegal drugs.
