PDEA absolves 2 traders from flagged shipment at Clark port

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has cleared two businessmen who were accused of transporting marijuana-laced hygienic products in their shipment at the Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark (BOCClark) in September last year.

Cleared were businessman Frederick Juan and Leonardo Gabalfin who were questioned on suspicion that they had illegal substance-laced in their liquid soap and toothpaste shipment at the Clark Freeport on September 20, 2020.

PDEA said that after two tests, no dangerous drug, control precursors, or essential chemicals were found in the businessmen's shipment.

In a post-operation report released recently, Clark International AirportInter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (CIA-IADITG) chief Joseph L.

Samson told PDEA Region 3 Director Christian O. Frivaldo that their operation “yielded negative results” after chemical analysis of the seized hygienic products showed that “neither dangerous drugs (DD) nor control precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs)” were found in them.

On September 29, 2020, PDEA Provincial Officer Vidal DC Bacolod also issued a certification, reiterating that the shipment of hygienic products yielded negative results for DD and CPECs.

Juan and Gabalfin had denied any illegal activity, saying the importation of liquid hand soap and toothpaste was a result of a legitimate transaction and business of their company.

They added that the first sample they submitted had already been tested which also yielded negative results from any presence of illegal substances.