BOC seizes P30M shabu, P5M ecstasy; residents turn in P28.8B floating drugs

On Saturday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized nearly P30 million worth of shabu from a passenger arriving at NAIA Terminal 3 from Kuala Lumpur.

The drugs, weighing 4.368 kilograms and valued at P29.7 million, were discovered during routine baggage screening using x-ray scanners, K-9 inspection, and a physical search.

In addition to the seizure at NAIA, the BOC also intercepted P5.1 million worth of ecstasy disguised as 'animal food' from Paris at the Port of Clark on June 4.

The suspects in both cases have been taken into custody and are facing charges under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

As of Saturday, residents in Ilocos Norte had turned over a total of P20.4 million worth of shabu found washed ashore off Laoag City and Paoay town to authorities from June 12-13.

Meanwhile, as of the same date, residents in Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte had turned over a total of 1,243.12 kilograms of floating shabu valued at P8.45 billion to the authorities.

PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez highlighted the strong inter-agency collaboration among law enforcement agencies in protecting coastal waters from drug smuggling and trafficking activities.