Banned, regulated drugs seized at NAIA.

Customs police seized numerous parcels of prohibited and regulated drugs that arrived separately at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The parcels arrived from India and Pakistan on May 24, July 5 and July 15 and were declared as "pharmaceutical drugs and medicines" were found to contain ingredients that are either prohibited or regulated.

The intercepted drugs consist of 100,000 200mg tablets of Cytotec, 31,014 10mg tablets of Valium, 2,700 10mg tablets of Xolnox, 24,000 10mg tablets of Ritalin, 27,492 tablets of Alprazolam and 7,000 10 mg tablets of Ambin.

The confiscated drugs were intercepted jointly by the Customs Police, NAIA Assessment Division, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Cytotec is a drug intended to prevent and treat stomach ulcers but is also used to induce premature labor and abortion.

Meanwhile, Alprazolam, Valium, Xolnox, Ritalin and Ambin are classified as dangerous drugs under RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Customs officials said importation of these drugs requires PDEA authorization.

"These shipment is believed to have violated Section 101(k) or Prohibited Importations and Section 2530 or Property Subject to Forfeiture under Tariff and Customs Laws of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) as amended; RA 9711 "FDA" or Food and Drug Act of 2009; and RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002," Customs officials said in a media statement.

CAPTION(S):

AIRPORT DRUG BUST - Bureau of Customs and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport inspect heaps and packs of banned and regulated drugs which shippers tried to smuggle to the country recently. (Ariel Fernandez)