MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday said the four magnetic lifters found in Cavite last August could have contained P11 billion worth of missing shabu (methamphetamine).
In a press briefing, PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino said the illegal drugs are now estimated to weigh 1.618 tons, higher than the initial estimates of one ton worth P6.8 billion.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino says empty magnetic lifters found in Cavite may have contained up to 1.6 tons of shabu, worth P11-billion, up from initial estimates of P6.8-billion one ton of shabu l @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/Oiox0oDpiZ
— Romina Cabrera (@romina_marie) October 25, 2018
Aquino said they conducted a weighing test on the magnetic lifters with the Department of Public Works and Highways and compared their weight with the one specified on bill of lading.
He said there was a discrepancy of 1.6 tons between the earlier figure and the re-recorded weight.
“So ‘yung aking estimate dun sa una na 6.8 billion, maliit pa pala ‘yun kung ibabase natin dun sa re-weighing na ginawa namin,” Aquino said.
The House of Representatives’ committee on dangerous drugs and committee on good governance on Wednesday conducted a legislative inquiry into the shabu shipment that the PDEA alleges slipped into the Philippines. — Gaea Katreena Cabico with reports from Romina Cabrera