A CONTROLLED delivery operation in Las Piñas City on Wednesday afternoon resulted in the arrest of a 25-year-old female therapist after she claimed a parcel containing nearly P90 million worth of shabu, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

The illegal drugs were wrapped in plastics and declared as “snacks,” valued at P89.5 million, and were intercepted by anti-narcotic operatives.

However, upon physical Customs examination, the parcel was discovered to contain 13,175 grams of white crystalline substance or “shabu.”

The suspect was arrested during the sting in TS Subdivision, Almanza Dos, in Las Piñas City at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (CUSTOMS-NAIA) Director Carmelita M. Talusan said the BOC-NAIA with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and NAIA-Inter Agency Task Group (NAIA-IATG) intercepted the illegal drugs at DHL warehouse and successfully apprehended the consignee during the controlled delivery operation.

Four aluminum foil pouches containing an estimated 13,175 grams of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” were found inside the parcel claimed by the suspect, PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) director, Brigadier Gen. Narciso D. Domingo said in a report to PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

The parcel declared as “Grandma Chinchin 8 Packs,” a crispy snack, was shipped by one “Micheal Olanrewaju,” of 33 Alomo Street, Ogba Yaya Abatan, Lagos State, Ogba, Nigeria, and specifically consigned to the suspect.

The suspect was immediately arrested after she presented her identification cards to claim the parcel.

PDEA members under Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo, the PNP-DEG, the Bureau of Immigration (BI), BOC, and the PNP Aviation Security Group were involved in the successful sting.

The therapist and the recovered pieces of evidence were placed under the custody of the PDEA.

“Controlled Delivery” is “the investigative technique of allowing an unlawful or suspect consignment of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical, equipment or paraphernalia, or property believed to be derived directly or indirectly from any offense, to pass into, through or out of the country under the supervision of an authorized officer, with a view to gathering evidence to identify any person involved in a dangerous drug-related offense or to facilitate prosecution of that offense.”

The suspect is now facing charges for importation and possession of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

BOC-Port of NAIA, under the leadership of Commissioner Yogi Filemon L. Ruiz, said that they are “committed to protecting the country against entry of illegal goods and will further intensify vigilance and dedication to prevent smuggling attempts in the borders, aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.” BY ALFRED DALIZON & JUN I. LEGASPI