Intelligence agents of the Bureau of Customs, backed by government anti-narcotics operatives, have foiled the attempt to smuggle around P3.8 billion worth of shabu following the confiscation of the shipment containing the illegal drugs at the Port of Subic.

Agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) inspect some of the boxes which were part of the intercepted shipment containing  around P3.8 billion worth of shabu at the Port of Subic. (photo: BOC-CIIS)

BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said a controlled delivery operation was also conducted in Pampanga using the same shipment which resulted in the identification of some personalities behind the attempted drug smuggling.

The personalities involved are now the subject of the operation and case build-up with the help of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

Rubio said the operation started when the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)  received a report about the possible smuggling of illegal drugs through a shipment from Thailand. 

“We continue to enhance our information-sharing and enforcement initiatives among government agencies to stay ahead of drug syndicates and ensure that these illegal imports are intercepted even before they reach our local markets,” said Rubio, adding that the PDEA and the NBI helped them during the course of the operation.

The illegal drugs arrived at the Port of Subic, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, on Monday, September 18, 2023, from Thailand on board the vessel MV SITC SHEKOU and were subjected to x-ray scanning and examination. 

CIIS director Verne Enciso said they immediately issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention and on Sept. 21, a pre-lodgment control order was issued against the shipment and subjected it to an X-ray scanning.

During the physical examination, Enciso said they discovered 59 brown boxes containing 530 mixed red tea bags and golden tea bags with white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu, a dangerous drug as defined by Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

Each box, according to Enciso, also carried a plastic bag of “chicharon” or dried fish, cases of soft drinks, and sacks of feeds with markings in Thai language used to conceal the illegal drugs. 

The seized items were estimated to have a street value of P3.8 billion.

BOC agents check the shipment containing around P3.8B worth of shabu they intercepted at the Port of Subic with the help from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). (photo: BOC) 

The shipment was then immediately turned over to the NBI and PDEA for a controlled delivery operation. 

“An operation like this demands a coordinated response between and among agencies. We need to make sure that we won’t only be confiscating these harmful narcotics, but that we will also know who’s leading these activities,” Enciso said. 

On Sept. 24, the shipment arrived at the warehouse in San Jose Malino, Mexico, Pampanga, which led to the uncovering of the identities involved in drug smuggling. 

Deputy Commissioner for Customs Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy commended the composite team for the successful operation. 

“Narcotic interdiction remains to be at the core of our work here at the BOC. This operation demonstrates the commitment and dedication of our people to fulfill their mandates and remove this menace from our streets,” said Uy.