The Bureau of Customs, in partnership and cooperation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, seized two “balikbayan boxes” filled with 8,152 unbranded blister packs, or a total of 81,529 caplets of Alprazolam. The drug, used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, has an estimated market value of at least P2-Million.

The shipment arrived from Pakistan via Emirates Air Flight EK 332 last June 30, 2014. It was sent by a certain Iqra Garments to a Jasmen Tameyo, with address at Garden City, Parañaque. It was declared as “food supplement.” Operatives from PDEA and BOC waited for someone to claim the boxes but these were never claimed by the consignee or a designated representative.

The Alprazolam caplets have been turned-over to PDEA. Follow-up operations are on-going to determine whether this seized shipment has a connection to past apprehensions of illegal and dangerous drugs sent through air parcels.

Last October, BOC operatives intercepted a parcel mailed from the United States containing 268 pills suspected of sildenafil citrate, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction that was mailed last January 6, 2014 to a certain Angelica Amor Vasquez with address at 171 Gomez Street, Barangay Addition Hills, San Juan City.

“By law, Alprazolam is a prohibited drug. Not everyone can import this and you need a special permit to do so. Following a series of illegal drugs seized in mail parcels, we are stepping-up our coordination with PDEA, the Philippine Postal Corporation and the express couriers to thwart attempts to smuggle prohibited and illegal drugs through the mail,” said BOC-Enforcement and Security Service Director Willie Tolentino.

Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 prohibits the delivery, distribution and transportation of any dangerous drugs. It likewise penalizes any person who delivers, gives away to another, distributes or transports any controlled precursor and essential chemical or who acts as a broker in such transactions, unless he or she is authorized by law.