BOC files drug rap vs man caught at Naia for carrying shabu

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs (BoC) on Thursday filed criminal complaint against a Filipino caught at the airport for carrying methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

Facing a case for violation of Sections 3601 and 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) including the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is Roendo B. Ariata.

Ariata arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 2 via Philippine Airlines flight no. PR 307 on Jan. 8, 2013. He was caught by airport customs officials with 7.0486 kilograms of shabu concealed in seven rectangular boxes labeled “Gold Premium Milk” and stuffed in his luggage. The “shabu” haul was worth P56 million.

The BOC, during the third quarter of 2012 alone confiscated over 20 kilos of “shabu” from seven foreign nationals worth over P163 million.

The January 8 drug seizure is the first illegal drugs haul of the BOC for the year.