P103.1 million shabu seized at Clark port

MANILA, Philippines — More than 14 kilos of shabu with an estimated value of P103.1 million have been seized at the Port of Clark in Pampanga.

Three parcels which contained the illegal drugs and declared as ”brochures,” originated from Texas, Pennsylvania and Illinois in the United States, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said in a statement issued yesterday.

The parcels arrived on Dec. 18 and were marked as “suspicious” by port personnel.

Drug-sniffing dogs detected the illegal drugs, which were confirmed upon physical inspection.

A chemical laboratory analysis conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) also confirmed that the white crystalline substance in the packages is shabu.

Port of Clark district collector Erastus Sandino Austria issued seizure and detention warrants against the contraband for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act as well as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The BOC did not provide information on the source and consignee of the packages.

On Dec. 17, eight kilos of shabu valued at P55.2 million were seized from an overseas Filipino worker who was arrested during a controlled delivery operation in Trece Martires, Cavite.

Michael Florendo, 36, was apprehended after receiving a package, which contained the illegal drugs, in Barangay Hugo Perez.

The parcel also arrived at the Port of Clark. It originated from Long Beach in California, according to the PDEA.

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio had vowed to strengthen the agency’s coordination with law enforcement agencies to stop the entry of illegal drugs into the country.