Taiwan has strongly denied reports that the P6.8 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu supposedly smuggled into the country originated from the island.

In a statement, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) expressed its “strongest protest” to the claim made by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that the illegal shipment came from Taiwan via Malaysia.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino, after the discovery of four magnetic lifters allegedly loaded with 1,000 kilograms of shabu in Cavite last week, claimed initial information indicated the drugs came from Taiwan.

Aquino said the so-called Golden Triangle drug syndicate only uses Malaysia as its transshipment point.

“These allegations are incorrect. We condemn the irresponsible news report,” the TECO said.

Prior to the discovery of the shipment in Cavite, local authorities also seized a magnetic lifter at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) containing 500 kilos of shabu, which cued PDEA to conduct follow-up operations in Cavite.

Learning the illegal narcotics might have come from Kaohsiung, customs officials in Taiwan collected and verified documents showing that the “first 500 kilos of shabu found on 7 August was originally from Malaysia, and arrived in the Philippines on 28 June before being seized by the Philippine authorities.”

Citing investigation results from Taiwan BOC, TECO said the second container found with four empty magnetic lifters investigated on 9 August was originally shipped from Vietnam, later transshipped to Kaohsiung before arriving in Manila.

“(The) evidence clearly shows that the seized illegal drugs (shabu) were from other countries and absolutely not from Taiwan,” it said.