Screenshot A physical examination conducted by the Customs examiner, after the suspicious image detected by the NAIA Customs X-Ray operatives, yielded the presence of 58.93 kilograms of shabu that has an estimated street value of P400,724,000 as confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

BOC intel leads to seizure of P400M shabu in Pasay City warehouse

March 21, 2023 People's Tonight 793 views

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday, March 20, 2023, found more than P400 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in an international cargo warehouse at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

A physical examination conducted by the Customs examiner, after the suspicious image detected by the NAIA Customs X-Ray operatives, yielded the presence of 58.93 kilograms of shabu that has an estimated street value of P400,724,000 as confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Verne Enciso relayed the information to Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy, who together with Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, personally inspected the shipment that arrived from Guinea, Africa.

“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.

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

The suspicion into the packages began after the consignee presented two valid identification cards reflecting different names at the Pair Cargo Warehouse in Pasay City.

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, while lauding the work by his people, promised that this would not be the end of the line for those attempting to bring in illegal drugs and other contraband items into the country.

“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 said.

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