By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — Using courier service can be a convenient and clandestine way to ship illegal drugs — if the police do not bust it.
Anti-illegal drug operatives in Aklan seized a courier service parcel containing suspected shabu worth P200,000 in this capital town.
Agents of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (Paidsotg) also apprehended the woman who claimed the parcel from LBC courier service.
Jennifer Andrade, 30, of Purok 5, Barangay Naisud, Ibajay town, was arrested at about 4:45 p.m. on Thursday in the courier company’s branch in Gaisano Capital mall along Roxas Avenue Extension.
Senior Supt. Samuel Nacion, acting Aklan police director, said the parcel contained children’s toys; it was sent from Cavite province.
The sachet of suspected shabu, weighing more or less 4.6 grams, was hidden in a handheld brick game device, he said.
It has an estimated market value of P200,000, said the provincial police head.
Nacion identified the sender as Monica Mohammed of 5th St., Agustin Compound, Bacoor, Cavite.
The parcel was sent to Andrade for pickup. The suspect’s mobile number was written in it.
Andrade was with her three children when Paidsotg operatives arrested her.
She is the wife of another drug suspect, 34-year-old Junel “Kano” Andrade.
Junel Andrade was arrested in a buy-bust operation on June 8 in their house in Ibajay. He was detained in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Barangay Nalook here.
Paidsotg pounced on Jennifer Andrade after receiving on Wednesday intelligence information that she will claim on Thursday a package containing shabu, said Insp. Wilfredo Hofileña, the unit chief.
Andrade said a certain “Bombay” instructed her to claim the parcel in exchange for P5,000.
She denied knowing the sender of the parcel but admitted that she got Monica Mohammed’s number from the “prison jail.”
She visited her husband hours before claiming the parcel.
Andrade, a native of Tablas, Romblon, claimed it was her first time to pick up a package at LBC’s branch here.
She said poverty and her desire to provide for her five children pushed her to accept Bombay’s offer.
“Gin-intrehan ko ra para magamit ko ro kwarta sa pag pag-checkup sa akun nga dughan ag makabakae it bugas sa mga unga (I only wanted money to have my chest checked and buy rice for my children),” she said.
As this developed, Nacion urged courier companies to require identification cards to determine the real name and address of the sender.
“Siguraduhan sang mga courier companies na ang gapadala, may ID gid dapat,” he said.
He said the illegal drug will be taken to the provincial crime laboratory, while Andrade will undergo a drug suspect.
Andrade will face charges for possession of illegal drugs.
In June this year, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents in Bacolod City seized sachets of suspected shabu worth P7 million and concealed in sandals and shoes sent through LBC.
In April, PDEA also seized over P3 million worth of suspected shabu in Cadiz City also sent through LBC. Two suspects were arrested.
Iloilo City also had one such case in April. PDEA agents intercepted shabu worth P1.6 million sent from Cavite.
The shabu recovered was 276.7 grams or over one-fourth kilo and concealed inside a stereo speaker. (With a report from Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
