CLARK FREEPORT – Government anti-narcotics authorities seized P7.4 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu weighing about 1.1 kilos on Tuesday, after they intercepted two parcels of a Clark-bound cargo from China via an air courier firm.
Bureau of Customs Port of Clark District Collector Alexandra Lumontad said she issued a seizure detention order against the cargo following reports that suspicious items were neatly concealed inside two air pots consigned to a certain Mary Grace of Angeles City.
Lumontad said she coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency regional office for an interdiction operation and seizure of the hot cargo.
She said the illegal shipment is the first major haul by the BoC Port of Clark under her baton.
Lumontad assumed the district collector position here just this month.
Last year, several kilos of illegal drugs shipped from different countries were intercepted by BoC, PDEA and the Clark Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF).
Lumontad warned that strict profiling of shipments arriving at Clark has been enforced to stop the entry of contraband and other unlawful items.
“Port of Clark remain vigilant against illegal drugs through consistent coordination with PDEA and CAIDTF, strict profiling of shipments and maximizing the use of x-ray machines considering the manner of concealment and innovative scheme being initiated by shippers in the previous drug seizures,” said Lumontad as they turned over the prohibited drugs to PDEA.
The District Collector said Clark remains committed to the bureau’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.