Manila court finds 3 guilty for importing shabu — DOJ

A Manila court has convicted three individuals over their “indispensable participation” in the importation of shabu concealed inside aluminum pallets carrying sacks of tapioca starch, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday.

According to the DOJ, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 21 sentenced each of the accused to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of P50 million.

The three were found guilty of violation of Section 1401(g), in relation to Section 118(g) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

The Justice Dept. said the shipment was abandoned in 2019 and was declared to contain sacks of tapioca starch. However, investigation later showed that these contained narcotics.

It said that a total of 148.8 kilograms of shabu with an estimated value of P998.3 million was recovered.

“The illegal drugs were discovered after the winning bidder at the auction noticed white powder falling from one of the aluminum pellets while it was being lifted by a forklift,” the DOJ said. —RF, GMA Integrated News