NEARLY P80 million worth of shabu declared as “Terry Towels” was seized by Customs officials in cooperation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The shipment coming from Pakistan contained some 11.576 kilos of white crystalline substance amounting to P79.94 million and arrived in a warehouse of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last March 7, 2023.
After personnel from the customs X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) alerted customs officials and PDEA agents regarding the suspicious images of illegal drugs which they saw on the X-ray monitor during scanning last March 10, 2023, Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG) verified the images thru physical examination.
Testing done by a customs examiner and a PDEA chemist in the presence of other government representatives confirmed that the item found was methamphetamine hydrochloride better known as shabu, concealed in four winter jackets and with a street value of P79, 940, 800 million.
The IADITG also apprehended the consignee identified as a certain Rose Sarvano of Eastern Samar through anti-illegal drugs interdiction operation on March 10, 2023 as the consignee is currently undergoing custodial investigation of PDEA for initiation of corresponding inquest proceedings for the violation of RA 9165 and RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization Act (CMTA).
The shipment was carried by Aimex General Trading at Plot Khasra No. 1310/95 main Umer Khan Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
The BOC-NAIA, under the leadership of Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, remains committed in protecting the country against the entry of illegal goods and will further intensify vigilance and dedication to prevent smuggling attempts in the borders, aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and will continue to be vigilant in border protection efforts, meeting targets and balance trade facilitation.
