The Bureau of Customs – Port of Clark, together with the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF), Enforcement & Security Service (ESS), Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) & Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), recorded another successful drug bust as it seized 2.5 kilograms of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, commonly known as Shabu, with an estimated value of Php 17.25-million and arrested one (1) claimant in Pasay City.

The illegal drugs were discovered in a shipment said to contain “Food, Non-perishable chocolates, coffee, and candy” which arrived on July 05, 2022 from Rockville, Maryland, USA. The same was subjected to x-ray scanning which showed suspicious images. 100% physical examination was conducted which led to the findings of assorted chocolates and candies including three (3) vacuum sealed plastic of crystalline powder suspected to be Methamphetamine Hydrochloride.

The subject shipment was subjected to K9 sweeping which indicated possible presence of illegal drugs. The CAIDTF also conducted field testing which yielded positive result for the presence of “Methamphetamine”. Representative samples were then taken and turned over to PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis which confirmed that the samples are indeed Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, a dangerous drug under R.A. No. 9165.

Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued by District Collector Alexandra Lumontad against the subject shipment for violation of Sections 118 (g), 119 (d), and 1113 (f) of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10863 in relation to Section 4 of R.A. No. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

On July 08, 2022, joint elements of BOC and PDEA conducted a controlled delivery operations in Pasay City which resulted to the arrest of one (1) claimant.