(Photo courtesy of BOC)
The Philippine government will intensify inspections of cargo shipments arriving from Laos following the seizure of suspected illegal drugs worth billions of pesos, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Thursday.
Remulla said authorities would subject incoming shipments from Laos to stricter scrutiny, including cargo transported using magnetic lifters, to prevent the entry of concealed illegal drugs.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards National Awarding Ceremony at Camp Crame, Remulla emphasized the importance of intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement among Southeast Asian countries in combating international drug trafficking.
His remarks followed the November 4 seizure of approximately 200 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, valued at Php 1.36 billion at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in Tondo, Manila.
The shipment reportedly originated from Laos.
The seizure came more than a month after Lao authorities intercepted approximately 521 kilograms of suspected shabu worth Php 3.54 billion aboard a private aircraft reportedly bound for Manila at Luang Prabang International Airport on October 1.
Acting on intelligence information relayed through the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Bureau of Customs’ Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) flagged the shipment at the MICP for inspection.
The container underwent X-ray scanning, K9 inspection and Raman spectrometer examination, with preliminary tests indicating the presence of methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Remulla cited the operation as an example of international cooperation in preventing illegal drugs from crossing national borders.
He said the Marcos administration was prioritizing efforts to disrupt major drug supply networks rather than concentrating enforcement operations on street-level users and small-scale dealers.
The DILG chief also claimed that intensified enforcement had contributed to a reduction in the availability of illegal drugs.
He cited the reported increase in the street price of shabu from Php 3,800 per gram during the previous administration to Php 6,800 per gram.
Remulla attributed the increase to tighter supply and questioned the effectiveness of previous efforts to prevent drug smuggling through the country’s ports.
PNP probes possible links between drug shipments
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered an investigation into possible connections between the Php 1.36-billion drug seizure in Manila and the Php 3.54-billion shipment intercepted in Laos.
The investigation aims to determine whether the two operations involved the same international drug trafficking network.
“Our priority is to identify those behind these operations, disrupt their supply routes, and ensure that the Philippines will never become a safe passage for international drug syndicates,” Nartatez said in a statement.
The PNP is also investigating the consignee of the shipment seized at the MICP to establish the identities of individuals or organizations potentially involved in the illegal cargo.
Nartatez said police were strengthening surveillance and intelligence coordination with local and foreign law enforcement agencies to identify smuggling routes and prevent additional shipments from entering the country.
“We are examining these major seizures beyond their individual circumstances to determine whether they point to a common drug trafficking network operating across borders,” he said.
Authorities have yet to establish whether the two major seizures are connected.
The PNP said its investigation would focus on identifying those responsible for the shipments and determining the extent of any international drug trafficking network operating through the Philippines and neighboring countries.
