CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga — Port of Clark and the Phillippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Luzon are actively engaged in an intensified joint campaign against illegal drugs focusing on border protection, intelligence sharing and the interception of smuggled narcotics.
In a renewed strategic partnership, BOC and PDEA signed a memorandum of agreement last February 26, 2026 to bolster their joint efforts againts the trafficking of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals.
Central Luzon PDEA director Jigger B. Montallana said the joint operations aimed at targeting international mail centers, airports and seaports have led to significant seizures of illegal drugs, including shabu and ecstacy often concealed in balikbayan boxes, parcels and cargo.
On the other hand, Port of Clark custom collector Jarius S. Reyes said that all chemical importations are under strict monitoring and subject to potential alerts and inspections to stop the importation of precursors used to manufacture illegal drugs.
On April 20, 2026, the Bureau of Customs – Port of Clark officially turned over to PDEA P30.780 million worth of ketamine. The drugs were intercepted at the Port of Clark during the later part of March 2026 following derogatory information received by the BOC from PDEA. The shipment was flagged for physical examination while xray inspection revealed suspicious images.
After a thorough examination, authorities discovered six plastic pouches containing a white crystalline substance called ketamine concealed within a spool and wrapped with cable wires weighing 6 kilos and 156 grams.
The turn over was led by BOC Enforcement Group deputy commissioner retired police general Nolasco K. Bathan. He said the seized contraband stand as a testament to the BOC, PDEA and partner law enforcement agencies’ unifiedapproach to deter smuggling attempts and dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks.
As of latest report in April 2026, the BOC has already seized P2.531 billion worth of illegal drugs. Legal actions were likewise pursued with the bureau successfully filing six criminal cases related to dangerous drugs from January 2025 to April 2026 before the Department of Justice. (UnliNews Online)
