Customs seizes P749M shabu concealed in balikbayan boxes
On Thursday, July 17, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno led the inspection of the shipment, which was seized following an inspection which uncovered 110.24 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu concealed within four boxes, with an estimated value of P749.63 million.
Samples from the shipment in question were submitted to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for confirmatory testing, which later confirmed that the recovered substances were indeed methamphetamine hydrochloride.
The BOC said the seized shipment will be turned over to the PDEA for further investigation in relation to violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and R.A. No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
For his part, MICP District Collector Rizalino Jose Torralba cited cooperation among the agency's enforcement units, noting that the operation reflected the effectiveness of strengthened profiling measures and inter-agency coordination.
Nepomuceno, likewise, said the Customs will remain unyielding in its campaign against drug smuggling.
'We will not allow criminal elements to exploit balikbayan privileges and tarnish the trust of our overseas Filipinos. This seizure underscores our commitment to protecting the country and its people,' said Nepomuceno. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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Customs seizes P749M shabu concealed in balikbayan boxes
Operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized a shipment found to contain illegal drugs at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). On Thursday, July 17, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno led the inspection of the shipment, which was seized following an inspection which uncovered 110.24 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu concealed within four boxes, with an estimated value of P749.63 million. Samples from the shipment in question were submitted to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for confirmatory testing, which later confirmed that the recovered substances were indeed methamphetamine hydrochloride. The BOC said the seized shipment will be turned over to the PDEA for further investigation in relation to violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and R.A. No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. For his part, MICP District Collector Rizalino Jose Torralba cited cooperation among the agency's enforcement units, noting that the operation reflected the effectiveness of strengthened profiling measures and inter-agency coordination. Nepomuceno, likewise, said the Customs will remain unyielding in its campaign against drug smuggling. 'We will not allow criminal elements to exploit balikbayan privileges and tarnish the trust of our overseas Filipinos. This seizure underscores our commitment to protecting the country and its people,' said Nepomuceno. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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