Consistent to President Rodrigo Duterte’s fight against illegal drugs and Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s mandate to intensify anti-illegal drugs campaign, the Bureau of Customs Port of Clark, in close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) – Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF) and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), and X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), seized 470 grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Shabu) with an estimated value of Php 3-million masked in a shipment of “clothing” from Strand, South Africa.

Acting on a reliable information on November 30, 2021 that a shipment of illegal drugs concealed inside a travelling bag from South Africa was about to arrive at the Port of Clark, the ESS-CAIDTF immediately coordinated with the OIC and warehouse operator of a Hub in Clark to monitor the arrival and put on hold the subject shipment for verification. Upon arrival of the subject shipment declared as “clothing”, the same was immediately subjected to x-ray scanning and K9 sweeping operations which both gave positive indications for presence of illegal drugs. Thereafter, physical examination was conducted where bowls, figurine, clothing, slippers and a brown pouch containing a pack of crystalline substances suspected to be Shabu were found.

Representative samples were turned over to PDEA for the conduct of chemical laboratory analysis which confirmed that the subject substance was indeed Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or Shabu, a dangerous drug under R.A. No. 9165.

District Collector Alexandra Lumontad issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the subject shipment for violation of Sections 1400, 118 (g), 119 (d) and 1113 par. f, i & l (3 & 4) of R.A. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to R.A. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. On December 1, 2021, a controlled delivery operation was conducted by the joint elements of PDEA, CAIDTF, ESS & CIIS to the consignee’s address at Mabuco, Hermosa, Bataan which resulted to the arrest of the claimant.

The subject illegal drugs will be turned over to PDEA for proper disposition and the claimant will be subjected to inquest proceedings.

District Collector Lumontad recognized the vigilance of personnel involved in the said seizure and ensures that the Port of Clark will continuously intensify its measures to prevent the entry of illegal drugs under the leadership of Commissioner Guerrero.