BOC finds “shabu’ worth P2.64B in food shipment
ON Thursday, January 23, 2025, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) conducted an examination of a shipment at the Port of Manila that was reportedly carrying food items. During this inspection, officials discovered approximately P2.64 billion worth of suspected Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, commonly known as “shabu.”
The shipment, declared to contain Crispo vermicelli and Rafhan custard sauce, was shipped by Ayan Enterprise/Trading & Logisitics and consigned to Redshinting Consumer Goods Trading, which arrived from Pakistan.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) requested an alert order against the shipment after receiving derogatory information from the National Bureau of Investigation, which led to the examination of 407 packs of white crystalline substances concealed in boxes.
“Seeing this as our first major drug haul of the year, I would like to commend our officers as well as our partner law enforcement agencies – the NBI, PDEA, and DOJ – for their timely actions that led to this successful operation. Drug traffickers go to great lengths to circumvent our laws, deceive authorities, and harm our communities. But our officers go to even greater lengths to protect our people from the harm and danger brought by illegal drugs,” BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso provided more details about the joint operation, which wouldn’t have been possible without the sharing of resources, expertise, and skills by the BOC, NBI, PDEA, and DOJ.
“After receiving derogatory information from our counterparts, we promptly requested the issuance of an alert order and conducted a 100% physical examination of the subject shipment. Our agents discovered white crystalline substances concealed within the packaging of Kirkland Organic Dried Mango,” he shared.
Of the 698 boxes in the shipment, 58 boxes were found positive, with 407 packs of suspected shabu hidden inside.
The discovered packages of shabu weigh approximately 407 kilograms. With the current street market value of shabu at P6.5 million per kilogram, the total value of the seized illegal drugs amounts to P2,645,500,000.
The examination of the shipment was done before representatives from the CIIS-Port of Manila, Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and barangay officials.
According to Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy, the suspected shabu was officially turned over to PDEA for laboratory examination and custody pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9165.
“Border security is national security. This remains the top priority of the BOC. But while we are proud of the hard work that comes with an operation like this, we also know that these criminals know no bounds, and they will push us to the limits. We are committed to doing even better in the coming months as we try to crack down on the threats these shipments bring to our communities,” he said.
Five individuals connected to the smuggling of the alleged illegal drugs were subjected to inquest proceedings for violation of Section 4 of RA 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Criminal cases have been filed and are now pending before the RTC Manila.
The individuals who were brought before the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service were identified as Oscar Campo Berba of Redshinting Consumer Goods Trading, Customs brokers Kevin Lee Manuel Arrio and Richard Perlado Aguantar, and Karen Villaflor Sacro and Rey Baysa Gujilde, chairman and president of Ark Global Movers, respectively.
The District Collector, POM issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the subject shipment for violation of Sections 118, 1113, and 1400 of the CMTA.
The consignees, senders, and recipients of the shipment will also face charges under customs law for violating Section 118 (prohibited importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration) in the goods declaration in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
