The Bureau of Customs (BOC) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has made a significant drug seizure, intercepting over P200 million worth of shabu. The illegal drugs, weighing approximately 32 kilograms, were concealed in a shipment initially declared as machinery mufflers. The seizure took place at a warehouse within the NAIA complex, following a tip-off from a highly placed intelligence report.
The drugs, identified as methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as shabu, were discovered during an inspection conducted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at NAIA. This operation was part of a broader directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ramp up efforts against drug smuggling. The initial tests on the seized substances confirmed the presence of shabu, prompting further action.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio highlighted the role of the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) in identifying the suspicious images within the shipment, which were later confirmed by K-9 units. The consignee of the shipment has been arrested, and charges are being prepared under the Customs Modernization Tariff Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
This seizure underscores the importance of intelligence and the skilled detection capabilities of customs officers in safeguarding national borders against illegal drug trafficking. The operation was a coordinated effort involving the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), reflecting the government’s commitment to combating the entry and spread of illegal drugs in the Philippines.