The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Clark has intercepted 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with an estimated street value of P74.8 million.
The interception resulted from the strict profiling by a customs examiner, who suspected illegal drugs in the separate parcels consigned to various individuals. The parcels were subjected to x-ray examination and K-9 inspection, which confirmed that drugs were inside.
“Immediately, after the examination indicated the presence of drugs, the joint elements of the Bureau’s Enforcement and Security Service (ESS)-Customs Anti-Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office 3 and PDEA NCR (National Capital Region) conducted three controlled delivery operations on Monday, June 4,” Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña disclosed in a statement.
The joint teams conducted a controlled delivery in Brgy. San Martin de Porres Parañaque, involving the parcel declared to contain a chair and consigned to a certain Arthur Santiago. The team arrested one Dolores Dela Cruz Lintag after she received the parcel of shabu.
Another controlled delivery operation in the same barangay staged by the same joint operatives from BOC and PDEA led to the arrest of one Melchor Robelles Corocoto, who received the alleged parcel of dangerous drugs consigned to Marilou Fabi Mendez. The parcel was declared as cooking grill.
The third controlled delivery operation took place on Molino Road, Bacoor, Cavite. Two men, namely, William Ibanez Dela Piza and Daniel Roberts Andrada, were arrested after both received the parcel of dangerous drugs. The parcel, declared as bar stools, was consigned to a certain Mark Fojas.
Lapeña commended the Port of Clark led by district collector Lilibeth Sandag for their strict profiling and monitoring of parcels arriving at their port. He also commended the ESS-CAIDTF and PDEA’s Region Office 3 and NCR offices for successfully conducting three anti-drugs controlled delivery operations in one day.
The Office of the District Collector of Port of Clark will issue a warrant of seizure and detention on the said contraband for violating Sections 118, 119, and 1113 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Section 5, Article II of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
