MAY P249.83 milyong halaga ng shabu na nakatago sa LED spotlights ang natagpuan sa isang warehouse sa Pasay City ng mga tauhan ng Bureau of Customs-NAIA (BOC-NAIA).
Pinangunahan ni Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno ang inspeksyon ng naturang kontrabando at aniya, ang operasyon ay pagbibigay-diin sa tuloy-tuloy na pagsisikap ng BOC alinsunod sa direktiba ni President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. na paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga at palakasin ang border protection.
Ayon kay BOC-NAIA District Collector Atty. Yasmin Obillos-Mapa, ang nasabing operasyon ay isang ‘major accomplishment for the district’ dala ng laki ng halaga at uri ng pagtatagong ginamit.
“The interception demonstrates the effectiveness of profiling, X-ray inspection and coordinated enforcement operations in uncovering high-risk shipments disguised as legitimate goods,” ani Mapa.
Idinagdag ni Mapa na ang nasabing shipment ay idineklara bilang LED spotlight na mula Mexico at naka-consign sa isang address sa Metro Manila. Ito ay unang napuna matapos ang ‘non-intrusive inspection’ gamit ang X-ray Imaging (XIP), kung saan nakita ang mga kahina-hinalang imahe na iba kesa sa deklaradong laman. Dahil diyan ay namarkahan ang shipment para sa 100% physical examination at inspection sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa nasabing warehouse facility in Pasay City.
Ang Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF) at Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) ay nagsagawa ng ‘full physical examination’ ng shipment kung saan isang K9 unit ang nagpakita ng positibong reaksyon para sa illegal drugs, dahilan upang buksan ang cargo.
” The inspection yielded white crystalline substances concealed within the LED spotlights. Subsequent field testing conducted by the examiner in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed the substances to be Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or shabu, with a total weight of 36,740 grams and an estimated value of P249,832,00,” ani Mapa.
Sinabi naman ni Nepomuceno na, “The BOC will keep pushing forward in stopping illegal shipments at our borders. We are committed to making sure that these dangerous drugs never reach our communities.
Dagdag pa niya: “The successful interception reflects the Bureau’s continued efforts to strengthen border controls and address vulnerabilities that allow the entry of illegal drugs.The operation was made possible through tighter risk assessment, closer coordination among enforcement units, and strengthened cooperation with partner agencies.”
Samantala, ang mga kumpiskadong items ay nasa kustodiya na ng BOC para sa kaukulang documentation at turnover sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at pagsasampa ng kasong paglabag sa Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act No. 9165), Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) at iba pang applicable laws sa mga taong responsable, kasama na ang importers, consignees at iba pang sangkot na indibidwal.
