AT least P56.399 million worth of shabu hidden in a balikbayan box that arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from Thailand were seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
The shabu packets weighing a total of 8,294 grams have tested positive by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and arrived in Manila port last April 7.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso disclosed that CIIS Field Station-MICP received “derogatory information” about the shipment that was initially declared to contain household items, shoes, and motor parts from Thailand.
However, information received by the office that it also contains illegal drugs and misdeclared and undeclared items were eventually verified through small baggage x-ray scanning and the 100 percent physical examination by the assigned Customs examiner at the Designated Examination Area (DEA) of the MICP after a request was promptly approved by District Collector Mimel Talusan.
“We’ve seen this before. This is nothing new to our agents. It only intensifies our desire to get to the bottom of this modus and put an end to the individuals, groups, and organizations who think they can bend our laws to their will. We work hard every day not only in big operations such as this, but in ensuring that we will prosecute these people,” Director Enciso added.
The shabu was hidden inside plastic pouches that are concealed inside two electric fans and five water heaters.
Examination of the shipment revealed the presence of “white crystalline substance” totaling to 8,294 grams consigned to Philippians 419 Export and Import GEN MDSE Corp. and with a certain Frejail Calugay as the recipient.
metrosundaily
