Senator bares sale of poppy seeds in PHL stores

Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Monday said some establishments in the country are openly selling poppy seeds, which he described as precursors of the illegal opium poppy plant. In a privilege speech, Sotto said a report by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) revealed that opium poppy seeds and opium poppy seed-laced food products are openly sold in "trendy" groceries, bakeshops, and supermarkets all over the country. "I want to call attention to this flagrant violation of RA 9165 by supposedly reputed stores of high-end food and bakery products of selling poppy seeds. We have pictures of the sprouting poppy plants from the seeds bought as food condiments," he said. "They are not harmless. In fact, after an ingestion of these poppy seeds, one will test positive for opium in a drug test, as found by the DDB," he added. Under RA 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the importation of any illegal drug — including all species of opium poppy or any part or substances derived from it — is punishable by life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million. The death penalty, however, was abolished in the Philippines in June 2006 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "I therefore urge all outlets of these poppy seeds to cease and desist from offering these as condiments. It is illegal. I call on law enforcement operatives to include this information in their operations on anti-illegal drug activities," said Sotto. Sotto said that authorities have recently found an opium poppy plantation in Barangay Paoay, Halsema Highway in Atok town in Benguet. He likewise said that the DDB and the National Bureau of Investigation have arrested a foreign national and owner of a chain of restaurants in Metro Manila for alleged trafficking and using opium in their products. Sotto identified the 51-year-old Iranian suspect as Leeyoubenhouk Baroutian, who owns four World Class Persian Kebab Restaurants located in Santolan, Pasig City; Tomas Morato, Quezon City; Pioneer, Mandaluyong; and Sucat, Parañaque City. He said Baroutian was arrested by a team of NBI operatives while he was transporting 15 grams of opium along Blumentritt St. in Sampaloc, Manila. Fifty-five grams of opium and nine grams of marijuana were also found and seized in his home. - Kimberly Jane Tan/GMA News