Authorities seize P400-M worth of high-grade shabu

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MANILA — Forty kilograms of illegal drugs worth P400 million, hidden inside a water pump was seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Monday.

In a statement, the BOC said high-grade methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as ‘shabu’, arrived in the country through air cargo from Hong Kong last December 28, 2014.

The consignee, identified as Danilo Pineda, was arrested on January 5 after claiming the cargo.

The ‘shabu’ was discovered following derogatory information received by the Customs’ Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force.

The BOC said the illegal drug was turned-over to PDEA.

In 2014, the BOC seized an estimated P1-Billion worth of various illegal, fake or controlled drugs and substances, including ‘shabu’, marijuana, ‘Ecstasy’, Valium, Ativan, Dormicum, Rivotril, Alprazolam, Ritalin, and other unlabeled tablets.

The bureau has implemented a stringent control measures for examining air cargo and mailed parcels following the discovery of various illegal substances concealed in items like shoes, denim pants, slippers, books, billiard cue stick and even stuffed toys.