Drug hauls expose BBM-Rody divide
CUSTOMS and anti-drug authorities seize 73 kilograms of shabu concealed in industrial machinery shipped from Mexico, foiling an attempt to smuggle the illegal drugs into the country.
Photograph courtesy of customs.gov.ph
The Philippines, long associated internationally with former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, is facing renewed scrutiny over its exposure to international narcotics trafficking following reports of major drug shipments seized in Southeast Asia and recent interdictions by Philippine authorities.
The developments come as Duterte faces trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign.
The ICC confirmed three counts against him in April 2026 and ruled on 28 September that he was fit to stand trial. Proceedings are scheduled to open on 30 November. Duterte denies the allegations.
On Sunday, Vice President Sara Duterte expressed regret and alarm over the Philippines’ reported association with regional drug trafficking, pledging stronger law enforcement and intelligence-sharing with Southeast Asian neighbors.
In a statement, she thanked the governments of Laos and Thailand for their efforts to combat illegal drugs, saying their actions had helped protect Filipino families and make communities safer.
“We recognize the concerns surrounding the Philippines’ role in regional drug trafficking and express my deep regret that our country has become associated with this problem,” she said.
“As a member of ASEAN, the Philippines acknowledges its responsibility to do more,” she added, pledging deeper cooperation with regional partners and a commitment to learn from their experiences.
Unverified?
The Philippine National Police, however, said reports that recent drug shipments seized in Laos and Thailand were bound for the Philippines remained unverified.
PNP spokesperson Police Col. Allen Rae Co said investigators were coordinating with foreign counterparts to establish the shipments’ origins and intended destinations, examine flight and cargo records, and determine whether Filipinos were involved.
He cautioned against concluding that the drugs were destined for the country before the investigation was completed.
Laotian authorities seized 521 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine from a private jet at Luang Prabang International Airport on 1 October.
Malaysian police said information from Laotian authorities indicated that the drugs were intended for the Manila market, although the PNP said it was still verifying the claim. Thirteen people were detained in connection with the seizure.
In a separate incident, Thai authorities reportedly seized more than a ton of crystal methamphetamine from a boat in the Gulf of Thailand. The shipment was also reported to have been bound for the Philippines.
Local intercepts
Philippine authorities have also intercepted substantial quantities of suspected illegal drugs in shipments that arrived in the country.
On 26 September, a shipment from Guadalajara, Mexico, carrying 73 kilograms of suspected shabu concealed inside industrial machinery arrived in the Philippines.
Customs authorities, acting on intelligence, examined the machinery at a Pasay City warehouse on 2 October and recovered drugs valued at P496.4 million. The Bureau of Customs said the operation prevented the shipment from entering the domestic drug market.
On 9 October, authorities also intercepted eight abandoned inbound parcels containing suspected illegal drugs at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.
The parcels reportedly originated from Mexico, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Malaysia and Belgium, with listed recipients in Cavite, Tarlac and Laguna. The seized substances had an estimated combined value of P43.76 million.
The recoveries show that Philippine authorities have intercepted drug shipments using international cargo channels. However, the seizures alone do not establish how much contraband may have evaded detection or whether the Philippines is increasingly being used as a destination or transit point by international syndicates.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has confirmed that a Filipino citizen was among those arrested at an airport in Laos on 1 October when police intercepted an alleged transnational drug trafficking attempt after a private jet arrived from Subang Airport in Malaysia.
“What we can confirm is a Filipino was among those arrested in Laos,” PDEA spokesperson Atty. Joseph Frederick Calulut, told the DAILY TRIBUNE in a text message Sunday.