P36.1 Million in Unclaimed European Drugs Seized at Manila Mail Hub

P36.1 Million in Unclaimed European Drugs Seized at Manila Mail Hub

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | August 26, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – A major drug interdiction operation at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) has uncovered P36.1 million worth of illicit narcotics, primarily from European nations, that were left unclaimed at the facility. The seizure highlights a persistent pipeline of illegal substances targeting the Philippines through international mail.

On Monday, a joint inspection by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, including the PNP-Aviation Security Group, revealed contraband hidden within thirteen inbound parcels. 

These packages, mailed from the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, India, Poland, and Thailand, contained approximately 9,695 grams of suspected illegal drugs and 3,756 suspected MDMA tablets. The haul comprised a dangerous mix of MDMA, “Kush” marijuana, methamphetamine (“shabu”), and ketamine.

The intended recipients, scattered across Pasay City, Parañaque City, Bacoor City, Tanza, Manila, Quezon City, Rizal, and Mandaluyong City, are now the focus of an intensified investigation.

The discovery began with sharp-eyed BOC personnel who detected suspicious anomalies during routine X-ray screenings. This initial alert prompted the deployment of a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) narcotics detection dog, whose indications of contraband led to a thorough manual examination of the suspect parcels.

PDEA has since taken custody of the seized drugs, transferring them to their National Office in Quezon City. The agency is now initiating comprehensive legal and investigative actions to dismantle the networks behind these international drug shipments and bring those responsible to justice. This significant bust underscores the ongoing vigilance required to combat the global drug trade infiltrating the nation’s borders.

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