The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has seized 640 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, with an estimated street value of P4.5 million.
The drugs were discovered on July 22 while customs examiners were conducting 100% physical examination of unclaimed cargoes to expedite disposal of abandoned and/or overstaying cargoes at NAIA customs bonded warehouses, BOC said in a statement.
The item, which came from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA and consigned to a certain resident of Hagonoy, Bulacan, was declared as “toys/present” in the airway bill. Physical examination revealed the cargo to contain chocolates, stuffed toy, candy, slippers, socks and two cans of chocolate wafer where the drugs were concealed.
Both the field test conducted by Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force and the chemical laboratory analysis conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed the white crystalline substance found in the cargo as shabu.
Persons responsible for the shipment face prosecution for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
