The Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Port of Clark successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle 994 grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or “shabu,” with an estimated value of P6,759,200.00 in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency—Airport Interdiction Unit (PDEA-AIU).
This joint effort once again demonstrated the BOC’s relentless drive in fortifying border security thru inter-agency collaboration in the fight against drug smuggling.
Originating from Bujumbura, East Africa and destined for Cavite City, Philippines, the shipment was subjected to enhanced X-ray screening by the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project, which prompted a physical examination. Customs officers then uncovered a brown box containing a metal wheel bearing with four (4) packages wrapped in brown packing tape, each filled with a white crystalline substance suspected to be Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or “Shabu.”
Subsequently, samples were submitted to the PDEA for laboratory analysis, which verified the substance as Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, a prohibited drug under the amended provisions of Republic Act No. 9165.
This joint operation led by the Port of Clark—Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, in coordination with the Clark Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, the Philippine National Police—Aviation Security Group, the National Bureau of Investigation—Pampanga District Office, the Department of Justice, and Barangay Dau officials in Mabalacat City, embodies the collective resolve of the Philippine government, under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s whole-of-government approach to intensify the national campaign against illicit activities that threaten public safety and compromise national integrity.
District Collector Jairus S. Reyes commended the dedication of BOC-Port of Clark personnel and partner agencies, stating, “This operation reflects our team’s vigilance and strong inter-agency collaboration in keeping illegal drugs out of the country.”
A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued for the shipment for violation of Sections 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l) (3 and 4) of R.A. No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to R.A. No. 9165, as amended.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio emphasized that the Bureau’s commitment goes beyond its core mandates of revenue collection and trade facilitation. “Customs plays a vital role in protecting the general welfare of the Filipino people by preventing the proliferation of dangerous narcotics. Our border protection efforts are not just about securing trade—they are about safeguarding lives,” he stated.
