The Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) on Wednesday vowed to implement stricter security measures following the seizure of P7.5 million worth of party drugs at the Manila Central Post Office.
“We remain vigilant in our effort to thwart illegal drugs on mails and at the same time preventing the Posts as a medium of transshipment of illegal drugs in the country,” postmaster general Joel Otarra said in a statement.
PhilPost said it was on “heightened alert” and in close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) following the incident, on the lookout for possible entry of illegal drugs that passes through the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC).
READ: 7.5M worth of party drugs seized at Manila post office
“Preventive measures have been undertaken by the PHL Post to stop the entry of ecstasy tablets and illegal drugs at the entry point where parcels and other mails that passes through the post for delivery. PHL Post has been doing its part in the government’s effort to specifically stop illegal drugs and other prohibited materials from entering the country through the mail,” the statement read.
“Stringent security measures are being done in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to help detect the entry of illegal drugs by allowing the agency’s drug sniffing dogs to check suspicious items for delivery to addressees or consignees,” it added.
PhilPost said it “beefed up” measures including “tracking, advanced data collection and close coordination with other country’s postal administrations, security assistance from drug and law enforcement units, and other risk management procedures that would mitigate the threat of using postal service in illegal activities.”
The Bureau of Customs said the drugs were found hidden in five parcels of toys from Netherlands. JE