P.7-M ‘mail-order’ ecstasy tablets seized

MANILA, Philippines - Government agents seized a parcel containing 500 tablets of the party drug ecstasy, reportedly ordered online from the Netherlands by an alleged major supplier of illegal drugs in Metro Manila, officials said yesterday.

In a joint statement, the Bureau of Customs  (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized the parcel, which was confirmed to contain tablets of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA, when it arrived at the post office on April 2.

The package was addressed to Prabhjot Singh Gill, who was arrested in a drug bust at his condominium unit in Manila last March 23.

PDEA regional director Jeoffrey Tacio said they believe Gill “is a major supplier” of ecstasy in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. 

“Based on our investigation, the bulk of the ecstasy sold at the 7107 Music Festival in Pampanga last February, where we arrested four persons for marijuana possession, came from him (Gill),” he said.

Tacio said Gill confirmed that “drug traders are taking advantage of the Internet and online selling sites. These findings are another challenge and will change the way we operate.”

Gill reportedly purchased the ecstasy tablets – each with a street value of P1,500 – from a black market website and paid for them using peer-to-peer online payment service Bitcoin.

BOC public information and assistance division chief Charo Logarta-Lagamon said they believe drug traffickers are “experimenting with various routes and modes of sending and delivery to see if these are viable for drug smuggling.”