MANILA — Three parcels containing suspected shabu, valued at over PHP100 million, were recently confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Clark, Pampanga.
The illegal substances, initially labeled as “brochures” from Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois in the United States, arrived on December 18, 2023.
The port’s X-ray Inspection Project raised suspicions, leading to a thorough inspection that unveiled plastic pouches containing crystalline materials suspected to be shabu.
District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria disclosed that the estimated street value of the seized drugs amounted to PHP103,113,600. A chemical laboratory analysis by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed the presence of shabu, classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In response to the discovery, Austria issued Warrants of Seizure and Detention against the shipments, citing a violation of RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) in connection with RA 9165. BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio pledged to maintain collaborations with law enforcement agencies to prevent the illicit entry of drugs into the country.
“While there is still work to be done in the Bureau of Customs to enhance our efforts against illegal attempts to import controlled substances, we remain committed to strengthening coordination with our partner law enforcement agencies to protect our nation from the detrimental effects of drug trafficking,” Rubio stated in a released statement.
(Jr Amigo/IA/MNM)