Authorities intercepted over P749 million worth of suspected shabu concealed in balikbayan boxes at the Manila International Container Port on Monday, dealing a major blow to drug smuggling operations targeting the Philippines.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BoC), discovered more than 110 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride inside four balikbayan boxes that had arrived from California. The boxes were opened for inspection at Container Facility Station 3 in Tondo, Manila.
Inside, agents found 106 vacuum-sealed packs of white crystalline substances, ingeniously hidden among boxes of cereal, snack packs, and instant noodles. Initial chemical testing confirmed the contents were indeed methamphetamine.
Authorities revealed that the boxes were heavily layered to appear like ordinary balikbayan shipments. They were addressed to recipients in Mandaluyong and Quezon City. Investigations are now underway to identify the senders and any local accomplices.
PDEA Director-General Usec. Atty. Isagani Nerez emphasized the significance of the seizure, saying, “This interdiction is the result of constant vigilance and close coordination among our agencies. Every time we stop illegal drugs at our ports, we protect countless families and communities from their harmful effects.”
He also vowed that efforts to block smuggling operations across various entry points would remain relentless: “We are committed to ensuring that all attempts to smuggle contraband—whether through border entry points, cargo shipments, or parcels—are intercepted and prevented.”
