DOJ recommends raps vs. claimant of P218M worth of shabu at NAIA

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said it has recommended the filing of charges against the recipient of parcels containing shabu with an estimated worth of P218.4 million at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

According to the DOJ, respondent Christine Tigranes will face charges for violation of Section 4 (importation of dangerous drugs) under the Dangerous Drugs Act and Section 1401 (unlawful importation or exportation) under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Tignares allegedly received 31 kilograms of shabu from a certain Isaac Chikore from Zimbabwe at the PAIR-PAGS Center, NAIA Complex.

“Respondent arrived at the examination area and introduced herself as the consignee thereof, presenting the airway bill for said parcels and claimed to be the consignee,” the DOJ said in a statement.

The drugs were wrapped in four brown cartons and declared as machinery mufflers. Authorities found something suspicious when the parcels passed through the X-ray machine, prompting them to conduct a physical inspection of the items.

“Each of the four metal machinery mufflers contained a transparent plastic containing another transparent plastic with white crystalline substances that turned out to be shabu,” the Justice Department said.

“Respondent consignee Christine Tignares was immediately arrested,” it added.

The drugs were then turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Laboratory Service. The chemistry report yielded positive results for the presence of shabu.

For his part, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the arrest should be a warning against those involved in illegal drugs.

“Expect that our crusade against this menace to society will be more vicious in the upcoming days and will never stop until we attain our ultimate goal of a 100% drug-free Philippines," Remulla said.

“The Department is firm in its commitment to waging war against drugs,” he added. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KG, GMA Integrated News