The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) says it is to implement more stringent security measures following the seizure of approximately Peso 4.9m (US$100,000) worth of drugs at the Manila Central Post Office.
According to the post, authorities apprehended a person in the act of claiming a parcel containing the alleged ecstasy, or “party drugs”, at the Manila Central Post Office Parcel Division. Around 2,878 tablets were found hidden along with clothes, shoes and other personal items.
“We remain vigilant in our effort to thwart illegal drugs on mails and at the same time prevent the posts as a medium of transhipment of illegal drugs in the country through our Inspectorate Service Department,” PHLPost said in a statement.
Preventive measures have been implemented to stop the entry of ecstasy tablets and illegal drugs at the point where parcels and other mails are processed for delivery. PHLPost added that it has been doing its part in the government of the Philippines’ effort to stop illegal drugs and other prohibited materials from entering the country through the mail.
Its statement added, “Security measures are being done by the PHLPost Inspectorate Department in coordination with the Bureau of Customs and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to help detect the entry of illegal drugs allowing the agency’s drug sniffing dogs to check suspicious items for delivery to addressees or consignees.”
The post is currently using specialized equipment installed at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City which is capable of detecting contraband. The postal corporation added that it strengthened measures to include tracking, advanced data collection and close coordination with other countries’ postal administrations, security assistance from drug and law enforcement units, and other risk management procedures that would mitigate the threat of using the postal service in illegal activities.
