Photo courtesy of BOC
What was declared as a shipment of personal belongings from Canada instead yielded nearly P200 million worth of illegal drugs after suspicious X-ray images prompted Customs authorities to open the packages in Pasay City.
The Bureau of Customs said the shipment contained 15 boxes, which underwent closer inspection after its X-ray Inspection Project detected unusual images during routine screening.
A subsequent examination uncovered about 28.3 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride concealed inside 28 cans spread across six boxes. Authorities valued the shabu at approximately P192.603 million.
Another box contained roughly 4.7 kilograms of high-grade marijuana, or kush, estimated to be worth P7.119 million.
Inspectors also found 20 towels and 20 duvets suspected of containing liquid methamphetamine, adding another concealment method for investigators to examine.
Samples from the seized substances and items were submitted to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which confirmed the presence of methamphetamine hydrochloride and cannabis through laboratory testing.
Customs intelligence, enforcement and anti-illegal drug units worked with PDEA and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group in inspecting and securing the shipment.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said X-ray technology and intelligence profiling helped flag the cargo before the drugs could leave government control. The BOC release did not identify the shipment’s intended recipient or report any arrests, leaving investigators to determine who was behind the attempted entry of the drugs.