Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla underscored the importance of international intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement in stopping large-scale illegal drug shipments, following the seizure of 200 kilograms of suspected shabu worth an estimated P1.36 billion at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in Tondo, Manila.
Remulla led the presentation and inspection of the seized shipment, consisting of 200 vacuum-sealed packs of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride concealed inside 50 carton boxes in a 40-foot shipping container that originated from Lao PDR and was loaded in Haiphong, Vietnam.
Joining him were Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Deputy Director General for Operations Assistant Secretary Renato Gumban, and Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Chief for Operations LTGen. Neri Vincent Ignacio.
Acting on intelligence relayed through the PDEA, the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) flagged the shipment for inspection. The container underwent X-ray, K9, and Raman spectrometer examinations, with initial tests yielding positive results for methamphetamine hydrochloride.
Remulla emphasized that the interception reflects the Marcos administration’s strategy of disrupting the illegal drug trade at its source rather than concentrating enforcement efforts on street-level users and small-time pushers.
“Hindi po natin target ang mga maliliit na tao, hindi po natin target ang mga peddler, kinukuha natin from the source itself.”
“Hindi po natin target ang mga maliliit na tao, hindi po natin target ang mga peddler, kinukuha natin from the source itself,” the DILG chief stressed.
PDEA figures show that authorities seized P122.53 billion worth of illegal drugs from July 2022 to July 31, 2026, exceeding the P91.06 billion confiscated during the entire six-year period from July 2016 to June 2022.
The BOC is coordinating with the PNP Drug Enforcement Group to trace the passage of the cargo, trace its origin, and identify other possible involvement in the attempted smuggling.
From 2025 to 2026, the BOC has conducted 520 illegal drug-related operations worth ₱11.294 billion.
The BOC has also filed seven drug-related charges.
10 individuals have been convicted following the filing of two drug-related cases.
“Ang estratehiya natin ay bantayan ang mga lugar kung saan posibleng makapasok ang mga ito.”
“Patuloy tayong sumusunod sa kautusan ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na panatilihing ligtas ang ating mga kalye laban sa ilegal na droga. Ang estratehiya natin ay bantayan ang mga lugar kung saan posibleng makapasok ang mga ito,” Nepomuceno said.
“Ang tungkulin ng Customs ay hindi lamang mangolekta ng pondo para sa operasyon ng pamahalaan. Isa rin sa ating mga trabaho ang makipagtulungan sa PNP, NBI, PDEA, at iba pang ahensya upang mapanatiling ligtas ang ating mga komunidad laban sa pagpasok ng ilegal na droga,” the customs chief concluded.
