Bonjour?Antique French phone leads to unexpected discovery: P1.74M worth of shabu

The BOC and other government agencies find P1.74-M worth of shabu in an antique French telephone. Photo from the BOC

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport made a startling find: P1.743 million worth of shabu concealed inside an antique French telephone in a Pasay City warehouse.

Dalsey Hillblom Lynn Warehouse was the location of the century-old telephone that has baffled officials and civilians alike with its discovery due to the unusual smuggling method used to conceal it.

From BOC

“The parcel, declared as antique French phone, arrived at the Port of NAIA from France on January 30. Upon physical examination, it contained 255 grams of a white crystalline substance,” said the BOC in a statement on Friday.

From BOC

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) verified it was shabu, said the BOC.

The BOC worked with  PDEA and  NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG) to nab the parcel’s claimant.

“The composite team also arrested the claimant during controlled delivery operations on February 6 in Makati City,” said the BOC.

The PDEA is investigating the claimant for possible violations against the Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Anti-Illegal Drugs Act, and RA 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization Act.

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JPV/abc