The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), BOC Quick Response Team (QRT ESS), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region III (PDEA RO III), and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), collaborated efficiently and were able to apprehend another claimant of illegal drugs during a controlled delivery operation in Brgy. Guyong, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
At around 5:00 pm, the consignee, “Jayson Quiloy,” 38 years old, claimed the package containing 2,003 grams of metamphetamine or “shabu” concealed inside 2 hotpot grills. The said package of shabu is estimated to have a street value of Php13,620,400.
The package declared as “Kitchen Appliances – steamboat grill” arrived last February 16 in the Port of NAIA and was shipped by a “Glus Sdn Bhd. (MBE Sri Gombak)” from Malaysia.
The illegal drugs were initially discovered during the conduct of x-ray inspection, wherein an irregular image appeared. This prompted the 100-percent physical examination of the subject package by NAIA Customs personnel. In the course of the physical examination, the package was found to contain white crystalline substance inside a hotpot grill. Subsequent PDEA Chemical Laboratory Analysis confirmed the seized white crystalline substance as “Shabu.”
Last February 15, a claimant of a package containing “Ecstacy” was also arrested by the authorities in the Manila Central Post Office during an operation.
The claimant and the illegal drugs are now in the custody of PDEA, with claimant being subjected to custodial investigation for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165) in relation to Section 118 (Prohibited Importation), Section 1113 (Goods Liable for Seizure and Forfeiture) and Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation) of Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
(With story and photos by Joyce Fernan)