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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 3 persons convicted for smuggling P1-B worth of shabu in 2019

3 persons convicted for smuggling P1-B worth of shabu in 2019

Published Feb 4, 2026 03:08 pm
Three persons have been convicted by a Manila regional trial court (RTC) in the 2019 shipment of almost P1-billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” that were hidden inside the sacks of tapioca starch.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, Feb. 4, said those convicted were Muktasil Abundol Asimuddin, Emmanuel Paulo Delos Reyes, and George Fernandez.
They were found guilty of violating Section 1401(g) in relation to Section 118(g) of Republic Act No. 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
“The court sentenced each of the accused to reclusion perpetua (20 to 40 years imprisonment) and imposed a fine of P50,000,000),” the DOJ said. A copy of the decision was not released by the DOJ.
It also said: “The court found Muktasil Abundol Asimuddin, Emmanuel Paulo Delos Reyes, and George Fernandez to have indispensable participation in the importation of methamphetamine hydrochloride or ‘shabu’ concealed inside aluminum pallets carrying sacks of tapioca starch.”
It added that the illegal drugs were discovered after the winning bidder at the auction noticed white powder falling from one of the aluminum pallets while it was being lifted by a forklift.
Thereafter, a total of 148.80972 kilograms of shabu with an estimated value of P998,306,096 were recovered, the DOJ said.
It said that Asimuddin, Delos Reyes, and Fernandez “were charged for importation of dangerous drugs by means of false and fraudulent invoice declarations concerning the true kind, nature, quality, and quantity of the shipment, which was declared as ‘tapioca starch’ when, in truth and in fact, it also contained methamphetamine hydrochloride concealed inside aluminum pellets.”
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