A composite team of government agents have foiled an attempt to smuggle into the country some P2.7 billion worth of metamphetamine hydrochloride commonly called shabu from Karachi, Pakistan.
The raid also resulted in the arrest of five suspects composed of the Customs brokers and two officials of a logistics firm that facilitated the shipment.
Seized were nearly 405 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P2.7 billion.
The raid was conducted by combined elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in coordination with the Department of Justice, National Prosecution Service.
In a joint press briefing on Thursday, NBI director Jaime Santiago said the suspects “conspired with one another and employed multiple layers to avoid being identified in bringing the contraband into the country.
Santiago said one of the suspects, Oscar Campo Berba, acted as consignee in conspiracy with Customs brokers Kevin Lee and Richard Perlado Aguantar.
The two other suspects were identified as Karen Villaflor Sacro and Rey Baysa Gujilde who chairman and president, respectively, of the freight forwarding company.
The illegal cargo falsely declared to contain Crispo vermicelli and Rafhan custard sauce allegedly came from the Ayan Enterprise/Trading & Logistics, while the consignee was identified Red Shinting Consumer Goods Trading based in Las Piñas City.
The suspects were taken to the DOJ for inquest proceedings and preparation of charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“Recognizing this as our first major drug haul of the year, I commend our officers and our partner law enforcement agencies—the NBI, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Department of Justice (DOJ)—for their timely actions that led to this successful operation. Drug traffickers go to great lengths to circumvent our laws, deceive authorities, and harm our communities. Our officers, however, go to even greater lengths to protect our people from the dangers posed by illegal drugs,” said Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Authorities seize 2.7-B shabu cargo from Pakistan”