LAW enforcement operatives have foiled a drug smuggling attempt and seized a shipment of over 8,000 grams of shabu worth more than P56 million from the United States.
The suspected consignee of the contraband was subsequently arrested.
The operation was conducted by a composite team from the Bureau of Customs Port of Clark, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF), X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS).
The shipment was subjected to rigid X-ray screening process and K9 sniffing on account of intelligence information from the PDEA, indicating the potential presence of illegal drugs.
Physical examination resulted in the discovery of eight brown heat-sealed plastics containing 8,126 grams of shabu.
Importation documents indicated th at the shipment arrived in Clark on Dec. 17, and was falsely declared by the consignee as “dry food” from California..
PDEA chemical laboratory analysis confirmed that the substance is methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as “shabu”, considered dangerous drug under Republic Act No. 9165.
The team then conducted a controlled delivery operation that resulted in the arrest of the male claimant in Cavite on Dec. 19. The agents, however, withheld the identity of the suspect.