Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 25) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has seen a “significant increase” in the smuggling of ecstasy into the country.
The PDEA chief attributed the higher demand for the use of party drugs to the “psychological and mental health effects [of] the pandemic,” and the growing popularity of online drug sales.
“Ecstasy is the go-to illegal drug among young people during rave parties, recreational activities and night-clubbing,” PDEA said.
Based on the authorities’ operations, the supply of ecstasy comes from European countries such as Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium – with the Philippine mail and parcel services becoming their smuggling network.
“They employ drug couriers to transport drugs to the intended buyers, or distribute the drugs through social media using secured accounts, a proven and efficient method to avoid detection,” Villanueva said.
In October 2021, PDEA said it seized 100 ecstasy tablets worth ₱6.5 million from Germany. The package was “concealed in a parcel covered with tarpaulin sheets, two improvised pouches containing a total of 3,865 pieces of hexagon and skull tablets at the Philippine Postal Corporation Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.”
Another operation that same month yielded 100 more ecstasy tablets at the Manila Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio, Intramuros, Manila.
It expanded by 469% – from 13,000 tablets in 2019 to over 74,000 tablets last year – according to PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva.
