Four Kilos of “Shabu” Seized by NAIA Customs Officials
Alert Airport Customs officials today (July 16, 2012) foiled an attempt to smuggle into the country four (4) kilos of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, otherwise known as “Shabu” by a Malaysian national named Ooi Hock Guan who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on board flight KA 931 from Hong Kong.
According to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, the illegal substance with an approximate street value of Php32 million pesos were concealed in a secret compartment in one of the luggages of the Malaysian national. “The 4 kilos of “shabu” were discovered during the 100% physical examination of the luggage by one of our customs examiners after she got suspicious of a rectangular shaped plywood inside a secret compartment of the suitcase which was covered with personal belongings and other food items,” Biazon said.
Upon discovery of the illegal substance, Customs Task Force/Group on Drugs and Controlled Chemicals officials conducted initial field testing of the seized illegal substance using the Marquis Reagent which showed positive results for “Shabu.” The Malaysian national was turned over to the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
“This is now the result of our enhanced coordination with other government agencies involved in the campaign against illegal drugs and our continuing efforts to train all concerned Customs officials to keep them abreast with the latest trends and technology in illegal drugs detection,” Biazon bared.
“I have always been against illegal drugs. And this is one concern of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) which we will never allow our officials to lie low in their jobs, as this involves people’s lives. This is also the reason why we are not only honing the skills of our frontline officials in the Task Force on Drugs and Chemicals in drug couriers profiling and detection, but we are also recommending for the imposition of maximum penalties for illegal drug traffickers,” Biazon stressed.
Biazon pointed out that the country’s premier airports are now being used as a corridor for drug traffickers. The Commissioner, however, stressed that their heightened vigilance at all airport and close coordination with both the local and international agencies involved in the campaign against illegal drug trafficking, will eventually discourage international drug syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point or dumping ground for their illegal substances.
Prior to this drug seizure, the BOC also made earlier arrests of foreign nationals trying to sneak in illegal drugs into the country through the airports.
