BOC intercepts 8,000-kg shabu ingredient

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized an attempt to smuggle into the country at least 8,000 kilograms (kg) of hydrochloric acid from India at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT).

The BOC on Saturday said that the hydrochloric acid 35 percent (HCL) were contained in 320 drums and has a declared value of P569,826.40.

The shipments were intercepted at the MCT, Tagoloan sub-port in  Misamis Oriental earlier this week.

Quoting a US-based treatment facility, the bureau said that HCL is one of 13 toxic ingredients commonly used in creating crystal meth. The HCL also have other industrial uses.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said that the 8,000 kilograms or 320 drums of HCL were inside four 20-footer container vans,  consigned to Juchem Enterprises with address at Purok 13 Pulido Street, Barangay Doongan, Butuan City.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Neil Anthony Estrella said that the HCL shipment was discovered without import permits and clearances to import controlled substances.

According to Faeldon, the HCL shipment was a subject of an alert order dated February 8 for suspected violations of provisions of Dangerous Drugs Board resolutions, Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.

"The BOC operates at heightened alert 24/7 against corruption, smuggling, and border security, thus from to time we bust illegal shipments from ports to warehouses, and even to shops, in top pursuit of our official tasks and mandate," the BOC chief said.

"This capture is just one of many successful operations we did since Day 1, seven months ago," Faeldon added.

As per cargo entry documents, Estrella said that the cargo was shipped by Ahmedabad, India-based BTTO Overseas Co. on board Santa Loukia vessel 1705 from the Port of Jawahari Nehru or Nhava Sheva— the largest container port in India located east of Mumbai.

The shipment arrived at MCT Tagoloan sub-port on January 31, 2017. —John Ted Cordero/ALG, GMA News