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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon explains why recent BOC 'shabu' haul is a big deal

Solon explains why recent BOC 'shabu' haul is a big deal

Published Oct 6, 2023 09:33 am

At A Glance

  • Albay 1st district Rep. Joey Salceda gave context on Friday, Oct. 6 to the sheer enormity of the Bureau of Customs' (BOC) recent interdiction of P35.4 billion worth of "shabu" shipments. 

Bienvenido Rubio.jpegBOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio (2nd from left)

 

 

 

 

 

Albay 1st district Rep. Joey Salceda gave context on Friday, Oct. 6 to the sheer enormity of the Bureau of Customs' (BOC) recent interdiction of P35.4 billion worth of "shabu" shipments. 

“In Subic, they caught some 560 kilos, or a combined worth of around P3.9 billion based on the per-kilo estimates of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB)," Salceda, the House Committee on Ways and Means chairman, said in a statement. 

"In Manila International Container Port, they caught around 4.45 tons, which is close to P31.5 billion in value. So, you’re looking at a combined value of around P35.4 billion," he said. 

“The lethal dose of meth is around 200 mg (milligram). So, what was caught is enough to kill 25 million Filipinos all at once. This is a serious accomplishment on the part of the BOC," Salceda said, as he congratulated BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio for the two massive interdiction efforts. 

 

Shabu--methamphetamine hydrochloride--is also known as "poor man's cocaine".

This notwithstanding, Salceda called on the authorities to be "relentless in the fight against the use of our ports for criminal activities". 

“If criminal syndicates think that they can use our ports to ship shabu into the country, then they probably believe that anything can pass through our ports.So, we have to be stricter and more vigilant against smuggling, because if drugs can come in, pretty much anything can come in," the Bicolano said. 

“The Committee on Ways and Means is working with the BOC to fight smuggling in goods such as tobacco, agricultural products, and petroleum," he declared. 

The House tax panel chairman is also pitching for expanded intel gathering and enforcement capacity for the Rubio-led BOC.

 

Related Tags

Bureau of Customs joey salceda Bienvenido Rubio
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