Consistent with its mandate to strengthen border control, the Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark, under the leadership of its District Collector, Atty. Ricardo Uy Morales II, CESE, busted two shipments of Shabu with an aggregate value of P16,146,000.00 from Torrance, California, USA.
The first shipment was declared as “Ash + Axel 2PK Cryo Therapy Set” while the other shipment was declared as “Gent Leather Shower Gel 33.8”, which were consigned to different receivers.
Both shipments were flagged as suspicious by X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) personnel. K9 sniffing was likewise conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) K9 Unit which gave positive indication for the presence of dangerous drugs.
Physical examination conducted by customs examiners led to the findings of two (2) packs of Muscle Recovery Bath Soak containing white crystalline substances weighing 1,122 grams and 1,218 grams, respectively.
Samples were then turned over to the PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis which yielded positive result for Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or commonly known as “Shabu”, a dangerous drug under the Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
District Collector Morales immediately issued Warrants of Seizure and Detention against the subject shipments for violating Section 118 (g), 119 (d) and 1113 par. (f), (i), and (l)-(3) and (4) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to R.A. No. 9165.
“The Port of Clark once again proved its commitment to stop the entry of illegal drugs into the country. We are grateful to our frontliners for their vigilance which resulted to series of apprehensions here in Clark but we are also bothered by the rampant smuggling of prohibited drugs. May these seizures be a warning to drug smugglers to stop what they are doing because we will not let these illegal drugs reach the public,” said District Collector Morales.
“The Bureau of Customs will never cease in implementing strict border protection measures as we remain firm in our anti-illegal drugs campaign. We are further reinforcing our security protocols and we are consistent in providing rigorous trainings for our personnel to prevent all forms of smuggling,” Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said in a statement.
