The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted a shipment from South Africa containing approximately 1,706 grams of shabu valued worth P11,600,800 that was concealed in car parts at the Port of Clark in Pampanga.

The shipment—which was bound for Angeles City, Pampanga–underwent regular Customs clearance procedures until the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project detected suspicious images within the declared car parts.

A subsequent K-9 sniff test yielded positive indications for illegal drugs, prompting the assigned Customs Examiner to conduct a 100 percent physical examination.

During the examination, authorities discovered two engine pistons and one tensioner pulley kit concealing seventeen black and transparent plastic packages containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine or shabu.

Initial screening using a Rigaku Spectrometer indicated the presence of methamphetamine. Representative samples were subsequently turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for confirmatory laboratory examination.

A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the shipment for violations of Sections 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l)(3) and (4) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to Republic Act No. 9165, as amended.

District Collector Jairus Reyes emphasized the importance of continuously strengthening the capabilities of Customs personnel against evolving smuggling methods.

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno underscored the deeper purpose behind the Bureau’s intensified anti-smuggling operations. NEIL ALCOBER