Combined gov't operatives intercept P4.3-B worth of shabu in North Harbor

Customs Chief Isidro Lapeña and PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino lead the combine operatives during the interception of shabu shipment at the Manila International container Port in North Harbor, Manila. (Photo courtesy of PDEA)

QUEZON CITY, Aug. 9 (PIA)--Combined operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted a shipment of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, worth P4.3 billion in Manila International Container Port (MICP), North Harbor, Manila on August 7, 2018.

The illegal drugs, weighing approximately 500 kilograms, were concealed inside magnetic lifters.

“The intercepted shabu were shipped from Malaysia into the country. We can suspect that Malaysia was used only as a transhipment point. However, the country of origin of the illegal drug is yet to be determined,” said PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino.

Aquino said, a confidential informant provided the PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (PDEA RO-NCR) under Director Ismael Fajardo Jr. and the PNP Civil Security Group a tip regarding a shipment of illegal drugs from Malaysia intended to be smuggled into the country.

Immediately, Aquino said, concerned drug law enforcement agencies conducted case to discuss the possible location and identity of the shipment for the conduct of possible negation operation. Continuous intensive efforts led to the tracking of the shabu shipment carried by vessel AS Cecilia intended to be unloaded at MICP.

“Reports revealed that the shipment was consigned to Vecaba Trading under the name of Vedasto Cabral Baraquel of Barangay Lalud, Calapan, Mindoro City. Their identities are currently the subject of investigation,” Aquino said.

The PDEA chief directed the PDEA International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs Service (ICFAS) to closely coordinate with counterparts from Malaysia and China regarding the intercepted shabu shipment. (PIA-NCR)