Over P200-M shabu seized in NAIA —BOC

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized over P200 million worth of shabu declared as machinery mufflers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a statement on Thursday, the BOC said the seizure of P218.48-million worth of shabu resulted from information based on a “highly placed intelligence report.”

Customs personnel at NAIA intercepted a parcel containing approximately 32 kilograms of shabu at a warehouse within the NAIA complex on Wednesday.

According to a 24 Oras report by Marisol Abdurahman on Thursday, the shipment from Zimbabwe was intercepted in a cargo terminal at the NAIA Complex.

The parcel was initially declared as machinery mufflers, and had to be pried open with grinders to uncover drugs hidden inside the exhausts.
 
The BOC said its intelligence division profiled the shipment after receiving a report.

“Our Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at NAIA verified the information we received. After which, we tasked the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) to inspect the dubious images that were then found to be suspicious,” said BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio.

Tests conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed that the contraband was shabu.

“’Yung muffler meron lang siyang plastic para hindi lang magasgasan yung metal. Bale yun lang po yung naka balot sa shabu,” said PNP-AVSEGROUP Spokesperson Captain Jennifer Batingal.

(The muffler only had plastic to avoid scratches on the metal. That is the only thing wrapped around the shabu)

They also arrested a 28-year-old suspect, who arrived to claim the parcel  on Wednesday night.

PNP-AVSEGROUP is now studying the possibility of a large group being involved in the shipment.

“May strategy sila even nilalagay na sa machinery nila… Hindi sila nadadala pero hindi kami titigil,” Batingal added.

(They have a strategy to even put it inside their machinery… They haven’t learned yet but we won’t stop)

Further investigations are being conducted to by the NAIA Interagency Drug Interdiction Task Group to determine where the drugs may be taken and if the claimant has any accomplices.

Charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the suspect

For his part, CIIS Director Verne Enciso said the operation was in line with the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the BOC’s anti-drugs smuggling campaign “by using our massive international and local networks to determine the source of the illegal drugs trade.”

The latest Customs operation came after the President led the inspection of more than two tons of shabu worth P13.3 billion that was seized in Batangas.

Likewise, BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy stressed the importance of intelligence gathering in the agency’s operations.

“Key to stopping these shipments is our ability to collect intelligence and the experience and knowledge that our officers have gathered over the years. Our officers are well-trained to identify these shipments that might contain potentially dangerous substances to protect our people,” said Uy.

The BOC said the shabu seizure was done in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).

“This seizure represents the effective policies of the Bureau on border protection and underscores the effectiveness of the port’s customs officers," said NAIA District Collector Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa.

Customs said the consignee was arrested and appropriate charges will be filed for violation of the Customs Modernization Tariff Act and Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

“We continue our drive to combat illegal drugs entering our country, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prevent its proliferation to the detriment of our countrymen. This seizure showcases our intensified efforts and dedication,” said Rubio.—With a report from Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News