Intelligence agents of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized more than P2.5 million worth of cocaine in a raid in a warehouse in Taguig City on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
BOC Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said the operation stemmed from a confirmed intelligence report of a storage of illegal drugs in a storage facility located at AFP-RSBS Industrial Park, Kilometer 12, East Service Road in Taguig City.
Armed with a Letter of Authority issued by Ruiz, BOC personnel from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) and PDEA-Intelligence and Investigation Service (PDEA-IIS), immediately swooped down on the area and confiscated 500 grams of cocaine with a street value of P2.65 million.
Other items seized were various e-cigarettes or vape cartridges containing suspected marijuana oil, more or less 30 grams of suspected kush (hybrid marijuana), several ID cards, small transparent glass and plastic tube container containing suspected marijuana oil, assorted paraphernalia, one bag of empty capsules, and several Ziplock bags with residue of suspected illegal drugs.
Ruiz said the Taguig operation was a follow-up on the seizure of almost P150 million worth of shabu in an exclusive subdivision in Alabang, Muntinlupa last week.
“One of our best assets is the partnership we have with different government agencies. We maximize that relationship by bringing information to the table and acting on it immediately. That’s also why many of our operations against illegal drugs, in particular, have been successful... because we have an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Ruiz said.
Aside from the BOC and the PDEA, the Philippine National Police and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) also sent back-up teams in the operation.
BOC deputy commissioner retired military general Juvymax Uy vowed to run after all those behind the seized illegal drugs.
“Being able to put an end to the entry and proliferation of illegal drugs is the top priority of my being a deputy commissioner now. The agency works very hard to achieve our mandate and perform our duties at full capacity,” he said.
Uy said the seized evidence will be turned over to PDEA Laboratory Service “for qualitative and quantitative examination” and also for the filing of appropriate charges.
For his part, CIIS Director Jeoffrey Tacio underscored the vital support BOC receives from the Marcos administration.
“Eliminating the illegal drugs trade and of all other smuggled products is the cornerstone of this agency. These operations show our commitment to that cause. Moving forward, we have intensified this fight and have fulfilled the tasks promised by our President of protecting the country’s borders, market, and making sure our society remains free from drugs,” said Tacio.
Other BOC offices participating in the anti-drug raid are Customs Intelligence Division (ID) and the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force-Enforcement Security Services (CAIDTF-ESS).