₱10.696M shabu uncovered in wedding dress box

AUTHORITIES have seized approximately 1.573 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” with an estimated street value of ₱10.696 million, concealed within the cardboard sidewalls of a carton declared as containing a wedding dress.

The shipment, sent from Mexico City bound for Mandaluyong City, was intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC)–Port of Clark in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Clark Inter‑Agency Task Force Against Illegal Drugs.

Acting on intelligence reports, the package underwent X‑ray scanning by the BOC’s X‑ray Inspection Project, which flagged suspicious images and prompted a full physical examination. Customs examiners first inspected the white wedding dress itself but found no contraband hidden in the garment.

Guided by the X‑ray results and the carton’s unusual weight, officers proceeded to dismantle the packaging — revealing four transparent plastic pouches tucked inside the box’s cardboard walls, containing a white crystalline substance later identified through initial testing as methamphetamine. Laboratory confirmatory analysis is being conducted by PDEA.

Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno cautioned that smugglers are becoming increasingly inventive in concealing illegal cargo, often disguising shipments to appear innocent at first glance.

“Smugglers are becoming more cunning, and sometimes at first glance a shipment may appear unsuspicious. That is why we cannot be complacent — our officers must remain sharp, thorough, and ready to look beyond what is immediately visible,” Nepomuceno stated. District Collector Jairus S. Reyes reaffirmed the port’s commitment to strengthening border protection and anti‑drug operations in support of the Marcos administration’s intensified campaign against illegal narcotics.

A Warrant of Seizure and Detention has been issued against the shipment for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The BOC emphasized that the operation underscores the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence, advanced scanning technology, and rigorous physical inspection in intercepting illicit drugs at the country’s borders.