Justice Dep’t orders NBI to probe P6.8-billion shabu smuggling

The Department of Justice has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe into recent drug smuggling incidents, including the P6.8 billion worth of shabu that may now be circulating in the streets after slipping past port authorities.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is top of mind in the investigation, but the bureau is instructed to look into all state agencies and private entities that may have been involved, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday.

“Considering the huge value of the illegal drugs involved, and the relative ease by which they were transported into Philippine territory, our investigation will consider all government agencies particularly the BOC, and private shippers, brokers, cargo handlers, warehousemen, even other law enforcement agents, who may have something to do with these unlawful acts,” he said in a text message to reporters.

Philippine authorities failed to intercept what was believed to be a one-ton shabu shipment approximately worth P6.8 billion. Instead, they found empty magnetic lifters at a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite last week.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the BOC seized 500 kilograms of shabu at the Manila International Container Terminal on Tuesday, August 7. The contraband was hidden inside two magnetic lifters, and was estimated to be worth P4.3 billion.

On Friday, August 10, however, four other magnetic lifters were found at a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, but were empty. Authorities believed that a combined total of 1,000 kgs of shabu were hidden inside the four lifters, valued at P6.8 billion.

An information gap between the BOC and PDEA was partly blamed for the P6.8-billion shipment that the authorities missed.

Last year, a P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China was seized by authorities.

The drug haul from China led to a congressional inquiry, a DOJ investigation, and the eventual filing of criminal cases against some Chinese, Taiwanese, and Filipino nationals for drug importation, transportation, and delivery.

Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II and shipment consignee Eirene Tatad have pleaded not guilty to drug importation charges. Their co-accused Chinese and Taiwanese nationals have been barred from leaving the country, but have not yet been arrested as of last week. —VDS, GMA News