Acting on the marching orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Clark, in coordination with the Clark Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (CRK-IATFAID), prevented the entry of approximately 4.992 kilograms of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or “shabu,” with a total estimated value of ₱33.945 million.
The parcels were subjected to standard clearance procedures, including X-ray scanning by the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), which showed suspicious images prompting a physical examination.
PDEA’s K-9 sniff test further indicated the possible presence of illegal drugs, leading to a 100% physical examination by Customs Examiners. All five parcels contained a white crystalline substance suspected to be Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or “shabu”.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno emphasized the importance of leveraging technology in enforcement operations.
“This operation highlights how advanced X-ray scanning and the expertise of our personnel play a crucial role in detecting concealed illegal drugs,” Nepomuceno said.
The first parcel, which arrived from South Africa, was bound for Batangas City and declared as “Air Filters”.
The first parcel, which arrived on March 30, 2026, from South Africa was bound for Batangas City and declared as “Air Filters”. Upon examination, authorities discovered two air filters and four (4) transparent plastic pouches—two concealed inside each filter—weighing approximately 2,004 grams, with an estimated value of ₱13,627,000.
The second parcel, which arrived on March 31, 2026, from Uganda and was bound for Dasmariñas City. It was declared as “Textbooks and Briefcase”. Examination revealed one black leather case containing two sheets of black carbon paper concealing the contraband. The contraband weighed approximately 582 grams, valued at ₱3,957,600.
The third and fourth parcels, which arrived on April 2, 2026, from Zimbabwe and were both bound for Las Piñas City, were declared as “Documents”. Upon inspection, authorities found black leather cases in each parcel concealing carbon paper-wrapped packages containing white crystalline substances with a combined weight of approximately 2,170 grams and an estimated total value of ₱14,756,000.
The fifth parcel, which arrived on April 8, 2026, from Delaware, USA, and was bound for Taguig City, was declared as “Polyester Clothing”. Inside a brown box, it yielded concealed contraband weighing approximately 236 grams, with an estimated value of ₱1,604,800.
Initial testing using a Rigaku Spectrometer confirmed the substances as Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, a dangerous drug under Republic Act No. 9165, as amended. Samples from each parcel were submitted to PDEA for confirmatory testing.
A Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) was issued against the shipments for violations of Sections 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l) (3 and 4) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to R.A. No. 9165.
“These apprehensions reflect our sustained vigilance against drug smuggling.”
District Collector Jairus Reyes reaffirmed the Port’s firm commitment to border protection, stating, “These apprehensions reflect our sustained vigilance against drug smuggling.”
The Bureau of Customs remains steadfast in securing our borders and protecting the Filipino people from the dangers of illegal drugs.
