A shipment supposed to only contain electric airpot flasks turned out to be concealing shabu amounting to P7.4 million from Lilongwe, Malawi.
The shipment was intercepted at the Port of Clark International Airport on Sept. 14 in a joint operation by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
According to the Customs bureau, the shipment was first put on hold and subjected to x-ray inspection due to "reliable information that the shipment contains illegal drugs."
It was pre-declared to only contain flasks but a total of 1.1 kilogram of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu was found stuffed in two electric air pot flasks. It has an estimated value of P7,480,000.
"It was consigned to a certain Mary Grace with an address in Angeles City," the bureau said.
A warrant of seizure and detention against the seized shipment have been issued for violation of Section 118 (g), 119 (d) and 1113 par. f & l (3 & 4) of R.A. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to R.A. 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
District Collector Alexandra Lumontad said the shipment was turned over to the PDEA On Sept. 15.
Lumontad said the Port of Clark "will further intensify its effort against illegal drugs through consistent coordination with PDEA and Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF), strict profiling of shipments and maximizing the use of x-ray machines considering the manner of concealment in the previous drug seizures."
He added that they also uncovered illegal drugs inside shipments of air fryers and security cameras in previous operations.