P2.64B SHABU IN FOOD SHIPMENT FROM PAKISTAN SEIZED AT PORT OF MANILA

JOINT operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the National Bureau of Investigation (NB), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday seized suspected illegal drugs worth P2.64 billion  hidden in boxes of food products declared as Crispo Vermicelli and Rafhan Custard sauce at the Port of Manila. 

According to Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio ,the cargo came from Karachi Pakistan, shipped by Ayan Enterprise/Trading and Logistics, and consigned to Redshinting Consumer Goods Trading.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) requested an alert order against the shipment after authorities obtained derogatory information from the NBI. This led to the discovery of 407 packs of white crystalline substances concealed in boxes.

Five persons were arrested. They were identified as  Oscar Campo Berba of Red Shinting, the consignee; customs brokers Kevin Lee Manuel Arrio and Richard Perlado Aguantar; and executives of freight forwarding company Ark Global Movers, namely, chaiperson Karen Villaflor Sacro and president Rey Baysa Gujilde.

“Seeing this as our first major drug haul of the year, I would like to commend our officers as well as our partner law enforcement agencies—the NBI, PDEA, and DOJ Department of Justice—for their timely actions that led to the successful operation,” said Rubio.

”Drug traffickers go to great lengths to circumvent our laws, deceive authorities, and harm our communities. But our officers go to even greater lengths to protect our people from the harm and danger brought by illegal drugs,” he added. 

Of the 698 boxes inspected, 58 were found to contain 407 packs of suspected shabu valued at P2,645,500,000.

The seized  contraband was turned over to the PDEA for laboratory examination and custody pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Charges for violation of Section 4 of RA 9165 were filed against the arrested suspects.