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The Bureau of Customs seized ₱3.8 billion worth of shabu in the Port of Subic
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Around 530 packs were confiscated, each containing 1 kilogram of methamphetamine originally declared as bags of animal feed from Thailand
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Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla expressed alarm over alleged smuggling at the Port of Subic
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized ₱3.8 billion worth of shabu at the Port of Subic.
Around 530 packs were confiscated, each containing one kilogram of methamphetamine originally declared as bags of animal feed from Thailand, the bureau said in a statement.
The BOC-Port of Subic, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Department of Justice (DOJ), intercepted the illegal narcotics placed inside tea bags.
On September 21, Subic district collector Ciriaco Ugay and his team conducted an x-ray scan and physical examination of the shipment after the Port of Subic issued a pre-lodgement control order against it.
Samples were extracted and handed over to the PDEA for chemical analysis. The results confirmed the presence of shabu, categorized as a dangerous drug under Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
On September 23, the BOC issued a seizure warrant for violations of specific sections of two laws, RA 9165 and RA 10863 Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), related to RA No. 10863 Section 1113(f).
The seized drugs were turned over to the PDEA to execute a controlled delivery operation with the NBI to find the importers.
“In this significant operation, law enforcement agencies successfully apprehended ₱3.6 billion worth of shabu, delivering a major blow to drug trafficking. The collaborative efforts of our dedicated teams, commencing with the BOC and CAIDTF (Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force), and notably the NBI and the PDEA, underscore our commitment to combating the illegal drug trade and safeguarding our communities,” Ugay said in a statement.
Target for smuggling
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, said, “We have to watch Subic,” saying it has become a target for smuggling activities.
He said they have pinpointed Subic as one of the sources of agricultural smuggling in the country.
The justice chief underscored the importance of regularly “rotating” customs agents from different ports to avoid familiarity.
Remulla emphasized the top priority is to identify and address “loopholes” that could allow smuggled contraband to enter entry ports.
“We are working with [the Bureau of] Customs now, and their cooperation is critical to the success of the anti-drug program. We have to acknowledge that. We have to work within our means,” he added.
