BUSTED. Agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port account for shabu found inside a shipment containing electric fans and water heaters on Tuesday (May 7, 2024). A total of 8.294 kg. of shabu worth over PHP56 million was found inside the shipment that arrived in the country from Thailand. (Photo courtesy of BOC)
MANILA – Customs officers at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) intercepted some PHP56.4 million worth of shabu concealed in appliances inside a balikbayan box that arrived in the country from Thailand.
In a statement Wednesday, Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS) director Verne Enciso said the contraband was discovered in plastic pouches hidden inside two electric fans and five water heaters on Tuesday.
He said the CIIS Field Station-MICP received “derogatory information” about the shipment that arrived from Thailand on April 7, which was initially declared to contain household items, shoes and motor parts.
A 100 percent physical examination yielded a total of 8.294 kg. of shabu inside the shipment.
The first electric fan contained eight pouches with a total of 1.592 kg. while the second electric fan contained 10 pouches with a total of 1.579 kg.
Meanwhile, a total of 5.213 kg. of shabu was discovered in five pouches hidden in each of the five water heaters.
The contents of the seized pouches were confirmed to be shabu based on testing by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The shipment was consigned to Philippians 419 Export and Import Gen MDSE Corp. with a certain Frejail Calugay as the recipient.
“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,” Enciso added.
The consignees, senders and recipients of the balikbayan boxes would face charges in violation of Section 118 (prohibited importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration) in goods declaration in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The examination was witnessed by the CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, Environmental Protection and Compliance Division and PDEA.
PHP68-M ecstasy tablets intercepted
On May 6, Customs officers arrested four persons linked to a shipment containing PHP68 million worth of ecstasy tablets in a joint operation in Pasay City.
In a statement, BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) District Collector Yasmin Mapa said the contraband was concealed inside a box declared as dog food from the Netherlands at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC).
The individuals including the claimant, were arrested for violation of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and RA 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). They are now under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
A scanned X-ray image showed 40,389 tablets of ecstasy weighing almost 14 kg.
The operation was conducted in coordination with the PDEA and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG). (PNA)
