2 Chinese 'claimants' of P1.632-B alleged shabu shipment nabbed in Cabanatuan

Two Chinese nationals who were the alleged claimants of 240 kilos of suspected shabu worth around P1.632 billion were apprehended by operatives of the Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), NAIA-Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group and local police.

The Chinese nationals were nabbed in Sumacap Sur, Cabanatuan City on Friday night in a joint controlled delivery operations conducted by BOC-NAIA, PDEA, and NAIA-IADITG.

Authorities identified the suspects as Jayson Tan and James Ong.

According to the Customs, records show that the subject cargo was declared as work bench tables, shipped by a certain Ywlee 87 Trading of Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, and consigned to a certain company "Allejam International Trading" of Manila.

The shipment arrived at the PAL-PSI Warehouse on October 24.

“Thru the vigilance and intensified surveillance of BOC-NAIA frontliners, CIIS (Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services), CAIDTF (Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force), ESS (Enforcement and Security Service), XIP (X-ray Inspection Service) and its close coordination with PDEA, the misdeclared cargo was identified and subjected to X-ray scanning and 100% physical examination,” the Customs said.

“Found were heavily wrapped 240 Plastic Packs of White Crystaline Subtance found to be Methamphetamine Hydrochloride otherwise known as ‘Shabu’,” it added.

With this, the bureau said a composite team of PDEA, NAIA-IADITG, CAIDTF, BOC CIIS and ESS then proceeded with controlled delivery operations which resulted to the apprehension of two Chinese nationals, who presented themselves as the claimants of the subject cargo of shabu in Cabanatuan City.

“BOC-NAIA formally turned over the seized illegal drugs to the PDEA for further profiling and case build up against the importers and other responsible persons, and inquest of apprehended claimants for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” the Customs said.

Also confiscated from the suspects aside from the alleged shabu were four mobile phones and two vehicles.

The suspects will face charges of violation of Section 4 (importation of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, PDEA said.

Since January 2020, in pursuit of the anti-illegal drugs campaign Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, BOC NAIA through its active partnership with PDEA and NAIA-IADITG has intercepted 42 different shipments of illegal drugs. 

The port remains committed to pursue its mandate of border protection and support the governments campaign against illegal drugs, according to the BOC. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News