BOC intercepts nearly 500 kilos of ‘shabu’ worth P4.3B

Operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) intercepted nearly 500 kilograms of suspected shabu (crystal meth) at the Designation Examination Area (DEA) of the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday.

Authorities said the shipment has an estimated street value of P4.3 billion. Authorities seized the shipment at the North Harbor port in Manila.

The shabu was reportedly concealed inside magnetic lifters.

In an updated report released Wednesday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said the shipment arrived from Malaysia on June 28 through a container van.

However, the PDEA agents suspected that Malaysia was only used as a “transhipment point” and not the origin of the illegal drugs.

“Reports revealed that the shipment was consigned to Vecaba Trading under the name of Vedasto Cabral Baraquel of Barangay Lalud, Calapan, Mindoro City. Their identities are currently the subject of investigation,” Aquino said in a statement.

Authorities are now investigating where and from whom the shipment originally came from before conducting a possible negation operation.  /ee/kga