The Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seized an estimated P278 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, at the Manila International Container Port.
The operation followed an intelligence report regarding a shipment from Afghanistan suspected of containing illegal drugs. The shipment, declared as “marble,” arrived at the port Dec. 31.
Authorities subjected the container to a non-intrusive inspection, K9 sniffing, and a physical examination after the cargo was declared abandoned.
X-ray scanning showed suspicious images in the container’s top rail, and a narcotics detection dog later gave a positive indication for the presence of illegal drugs.
The seized drugs were valued at approximately P6.8 million per kilogram.
Customs and PDEA officials said they will continue strengthening intelligence sharing and joint enforcement efforts to prevent the entry of illegal drugs into the country.
