(Photo from BOC-NAIA)
MANILA – Authorities headed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have arrested two claimants of a package reportedly containing methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu” worth close to PHP4 million in Las Piñas.
In a statement released Friday, the BOC said the suspects only identified as a certain resident of Pasay City and a Nigerian national were apprehended after receiving the package during a controlled delivery operation at Marcos Alvarez Avenue corner Veraville Homes, Talon Singko, Thursday evening.
The package, containing 588 grams of shabu worth PHP3,998,400 was initially discovered by BOC during x-ray scanning which yielded suspicious images.
After conducting 100 percent physical examination of the shipment, the assigned Customs Examiner found white crystalline substances wrapped in aluminum foil and concealed inside a baby bottle sterilizer and dryer.
Records further show that the package was shipped from Laos and declared as “electric steamer”.
The BOC added that chemical test conducted by Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed the subject substance was shabu.
The claimants are presently undergoing custodial investigation and eventual inquest prosecution for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, in relation to Sections 119 and 1401 in of R.A. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The operation was jointly conducted by the BOC-NAIA, PDEA and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group. (PNA)
