PDEA takes custody of P90-M ‘shabu’ seized in Clark

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña (center) turns over “shabu” seized in Clark to PDEA Central Luzon director Joseph Ladip. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE

CLARK FREEPORT — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday took custody of a seized shipment of 18 kilograms of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P90 million that were mixed with Buddha statues from California.

The shipment, the second seized in three days, arrived here on Jan. 25 and was turned over by Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña to Joseph Ladip, PDEA Central Luzon director, on Tuesday.

Bound for Cavite

The first shipment containing 6 kg of shabu worth P34 million arrived here on Jan. 23 and was to be delivered to Cavite.

Ladip said the shabu in the second shipment was part of the first batch consigned to Marichu de Padua, 36, and Suriong Taib, 37, who were arrested and charged with conspiracy to import illegal drugs.

Customs officers at Clark were alerted on the second shipment when they detected more boxes declared as containing Buddha statues and bearing the same consignees of the first shipment, Ladip said.

District collector Maritess Martin of the Port of Clark ordered her personnel to backtrack and examine shipments that were declared as religious items.

Alexander Cauguiran, president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport Corp., said illegal drugs had been intercepted at the airport in southern California weeks ago.

He said the drugs seized here could have been sent to the Philippines before the California crackdown. —Carmela Reyes-Estrope