kgs. of opium poppies seized at NAIA

By Joel E. Zurbano

GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have seized another parcel, this time containing five kilos of smuggled dried opium poppy buds from Spain. The raid on the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City also resulted in the arrest of the shipment’s claimant identified as Amandeep Singh, 37, a resident of Barangay Burol in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.

A composite team from the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) conducted the opera- tion Tuesday night.

Based on import documents, the shipper Sammee Singh of Navarro De Haro 24 30700 Murcia, Spain, declared the content of the parcel as “Prepared Foods of Cereals Corn Flakes.” Customs said it was a clear case of technical smuggling.

Under Sec. 4 Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act), anyone who would import Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals “xxx… including any and all species of opium poppy or any part thereof or substances derived therefrom even for floral, decorative and culinary purposes” could be penalized with life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.