Customs seizes ₱400-M shabu

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized suspected shabu worth more than ₱400 million during an inspection of a shipment from Africa in a warehouse at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio personally inspected the shipment, along with Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy and agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), after suspicious images were detected by NAIA Customs X-Ray operatives.

The X-ray report at the NAIA was relayed by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Verne Enciso to Uy, who, in turn, forwarded the information to Rubio.

The initial examination of the packages through the joint efforts of the CIIS, Customs examiner, and other BOC personnel found five boxes containing four pulley engines for a total of 20 engines.

The packages became suspicious after the consignee presented two valid identification cards reflecting different names at the Pair Cargo warehouse.

During inspection, a total of 58.93 kilograms of shabu was discovered hidden inside the shipment declared as engine spare parts.

These were confirmed by the PDEA as illegal drugs. The seized illegal drugs have an estimated street value of ₱400,724,000.

“The declared items in these shipments, totaling to about five boxes, were spare parts, such as pulley or pulley engines. But upon further inspection by our Customs personnel, they found reason to believe that these packages contain illegal drugs. That’s when they called it in to receive proper assistance from the CIIS and other BOC officers,” Uy said.

“What these organizations and individuals fail to understand is that we work day and night in any part of the country to identify, confirm, and inspect any shipment we suspect to have illegal goods. Our mandate is border protection, whether that meant policing sea ports or airport terminals,” he added.

PDEA is currently conducting an investigation on the consignee who is set to undergo inquest proceedings for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10863, or the Customs Modernization Act (CMTA).

Rubio lauded his men for intercepting the illegal drugs.

“This would not be the end of the line for those attempting to bring in illegal drugs and other contraband items into the country,” he said.

“We are steadfast in our commitment to protect the country against any and all forms of smuggling. This goal is in line with the directives of President Bongbong Marcos, so the public can be rest assured that we are heightening our vigilance against smuggling operations in a concerted effort to meet our revenue targets and ensure fair and secure trade,” he added.