THE Customs bureau has turned over to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency some P37.3 million worth of illegal drugs it earlier seized from the bonded warehouses of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The agency haul consisted of 5,239 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu which were concealed in various items like a baby carrier, camera, finance magazines and bar tools. The contraband were interdicted last May, June, and July respectively.
Aside from shabu, 1,000 pieces of party drugs known as Ecstacy, which was concealed in wooden toys, were seized on July 20, according to Naia Customs District Collector Carmelita Talusan.
The seizures, Talusan said, were due to consistent “reform initiatives and his five-point program of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.”
She added some of the seized shabu was intended to be exported to New Zealand. The shabu mostly came from the United States while the Ecstacy came from Germany.
Talusan also noted that a thorough joint knowledge of X-ray scanners and frontliners also led to effective apprehensions.
Meanwhile, Lapeña said the bureau continued the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte and will continue to ensue vigilance in protecting the borders.
The Customs executive said the continuing apprehension meant that “we are winning the war against drugs.”
Since Aug. 30, 2017, the agency has been very proactive and relentless in its effort to combat the smuggling of illegal drugs.
The bureau was able to intercept an estimated P3.436 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested a total of 23 drug personalities.
“The Bureau of Customs is very much on board in the country’s war against drugs and we will exert our efforts to continue protecting our nation and prevent the use of our ports in the smuggling of illegal drugs into the country,” said Lapeña.
Shabu, marijuana and ecstasy are the top three narcotics distributed in the streets and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese and Mexican drug syndicates, according to PDEA.