Adhesive sealant tubes from Mexico contain P15M worth of shabu

Officials found millions of pesos worth of suspected shabu inside several packages declared as construction materials, James Agustin reported on Super Radyo's dzBB.

Dumaan din sa x-ray machine ang package. Nang buksan ang isa sa construction sealant, madiskubre ang illegal na droga. @dzbb @gmanews pic.twitter.com/SjqHzy1cQW

— James Agustin (@_jamesJA) July 19, 2017

The packages were inspected via an X-ray machine and when these were opened, they contained shabu worth between P12 million to P15 million.

GMA News' Mav Gonzales reported on "Unang Balita" that the NAIA Inter-Agency Interdiction Task Group received an intelligence report that illegal drugs were due to arrive from Mexico.

The packages that contained 24 adhesive sealant tubes bore the name "James Corpuz."

Bureau of Customs Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the packages arrived on July 9.

"Hinintay na makarating 'yung magke-claim. Kasi ito minis-declare ito. Ang pinalabas dito adhesive para pandikit para sa construction. Tinago 'yan. Ngayon pagdating ng impormasyon sa atin, inaksyunan ng PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency], 'yung usual inspection procedure nila. Ginamit natin 'yung aso natin, 'yung X-ray natin. Of course eventually 'yung chemical test," Nepomuceno said.

It was confirmed through a chemical test that the tubes contained up to two kilograms of high grade shabu.

NAIA-IDITG deputy commander Marjuvel Bautista said it was their first time to encounter such a "mode of concealment."

"Ito 'yung una naming na-encounter na ganitong mode of concealment. Dati sa bagahe lang, sa tsinelas. Ito 'yung patunay na pumapasok na dito 'yung Mexican cartel. And also ito rin ang patunay na nahihirapan nang mag-put-up ng laboratory dito sa Pilipinas dahil ang ginagawa na lang nila is puro import na lang," Bautista said.

Meanwhile, Corpuz's cohort was arrested as he was about to claim the packages on Wednesday. He said he was just ordered to do so.

The suspects arrested were Alnar Pundato Sultan alias James Corpuz, Casan Rangaig, Amal Tantao and Snairah Pundato.

The suspect alias Corpuz denied his involvement.

"Mukha ko lang ginamit diyan. Hindi ko alam na may package," he said.

The suspects will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Authorities are still investigating if they are linked to a drug syndicate. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/BAP/KG, GMA News