CLARK FREEPORT — Bureau of Customs personnel intercepted on Monday (Jan 22) a parcel carrying more than 1,800 grams of white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) neatly concealed in a round plastic container with estimated market value of P12 million, Port of Clark authorities said in a statement.
Port of Clark said the package, declared “candies and baby apparel”, was shipped to the Philippines from Nevada, USA via a courier service.
Customs officials however declined to identify the consignee as a follow-up operation for the possible arrest of the suspects is on progress.
“The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is implementing a controlled delivery and might jeopardize the operations,” Customs said.
The parcel, which included two medium-sized boxes, was found carrying two plastic containers and baby apparel when checked by Customs personnel assigned at the Clark International Airport (CRK), said the press statement.
Port of Clark sources, who declined to be identified for security reasons, said the US counterpart alerted the BoC-Clark of a suspicious cargo bound for Clark.
“We were alerted ahead of the shipment and we conducted a profiling of shipment thru an x-ray machine, which led to the seizure of the cargo,” the statement further said.
Recently, Port of Clark confiscated 20,136 grams of shabu worth P136 million; 200 tablets of Ecstacy with estimated market value of P340,000 and 3,165 grams of kush (high-grade marijuana) worth P3.798 million.
“The seizure of illegal drugs is part our mandate is to prevent the entry of any illegal cargo,” said the source, who is assigned a key position at the Port of Clark.
In June last year alone, Port of Clark seized 30.7 kilograms of shabu (P208.7-million) in three separate occasions. The prohibited substance were taken to PDEA headquarters.-Jess Malabanan