The shipment arrived in the Philippines on September 26 and was flagged based on intelligence received by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service. Jeff Caparas, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — Authorities intercepted 73 kilograms of high-grade shabu worth an estimated P496.413 million that was concealed inside industrial machinery shipped from Guadalajara, Mexico, the Bureau of Customs and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said.
The shipment arrived in the Philippines on September 26 and was flagged based on intelligence received by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service.
An Alert Order was subsequently issued, leading to an examination of the shipment at a warehouse in Pasay City on October 2.
During X-ray scanning, authorities detected suspicious images inside the tubular frames of a pelletizing machine.
A PDEA K9 unit later detected the possible presence of illegal drugs, prompting a physical inspection.
Multiple packages containing a white crystalline substance were found hidden inside the machine. Field testing later confirmed the substance as methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.
"Sinubject sa X-ray at nakita rin sa X-ray na tama ang intelligence report at later on yan ay nakumpirma rin sa pamamagitan nung K9 unit ng PDEA," said BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
(We subjected it to X-ray scanning, and the X-ray showed the intelligence report was correct, and that was later on confirmed by the PDEA K9 unit.)
According to Nepomuceno, the concealment method was unusual, with the packages carefully fitted into the tubular portions of the machinery.
He said the size and configuration of the pelletizing machine allowed the illegal drugs to be concealed in portions that could be difficult to detect without intelligence-led examination and X-ray scanning.
PDEA NCR Chief Derrick Carreon said the seizure resulted from intelligence sharing and closer coordination between Philippine authorities and international counterparts.
"At ito nga po nakuha natin itong shipment na ito mula sa Mexico," Carreon said.
(And so we intercepted this shipment from Mexico.)
The shipment was reportedly declared for delivery to Parañaque City, although Customs said the consignee indicated in the shipment documents was fictitious.
Authorities are now conducting further investigation and tracing the individuals behind the shipment. A person of interest has been identified, while investigators are also backtracking the shipment and examining the personalities who may have been involved.
Authorities said they would pursue the consignee and other individuals who may be linked to the shipment.
The BOC said it continues to strengthen security at the country’s ports of entry, including airports and seaports, while upgrading X-ray and other scanning equipment to detect increasingly sophisticated methods of drug concealment.
The latest seizure brings the value of contraband and smuggled good intercepted by the BOC to around P90 billion since last year, according to the agency.
Some 96 cases have been filed in court against 317 respondents.