PDEA FOILS ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE INTO PH OVER P25M WORTH OF KETAMINE FROM BELGIUM

BY KEVIN GALANG

CLARKFIELD, Pampanga – Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 3 on Wednesday foiled an attempt to smuggle into the country more than five kilograms of ketamine worth around P25.3 million via the Port of Clark

The PDEA Clark team said the parcel containing the illegal drugs originated in Belgium and was  concealed in a roll of data cable.

According to PDEA-3, the Interdiction operation was launched following a tip relayed by PDEA Investigation Service (IS) to PDEA Region 3, alerting them about the arrival of a ketamine-laden parcel at the Port of Clark. 

The parcel containing the ketamine arrived at the Port of Clark on July 24, prompting close coordination with other enforcement units.

Ketamine is considered a dangerous drug under the Philippine law and classified as hallucinogenic drugs. 

Some samples of the seized illegal drugs were forwarded to the PDEA RO3 laboratory for forensic examination and confirmatory analysis.

The operation was a joint effort led by PDEA Clark International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, together with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Clark, NBI Pampanga District Office, PNP Aviation Security 3, PNP Drug Enforcement Group and  the Mabalacat City police.