Customs on red alert vs drug smugglers

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales has ordered an intensified campaign against illegal drug smuggling following the discovery of more shabu laboratories in Metro Manila recently.

Morales stressed that while the discovery of illegal drug laboratories in the country could mean that the Bureau of Customs is successful in its anti-illegal drugs campaign, there is no reason to relax security at the port districts.

"Importers of illegal drugs really find it hard to pass through our ports. This is why they are forced to manufacture shabu in the country because they know that it is really hard for them to pass through our security," Morales said.

He ordered the Customs police, led by Col. Jose Yuchongco, to go on red alert so they can closely monitor and check incoming shipments for shabu or other illegal substances.

"Now that police are successful in tracking down shabu laboratories in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, we have to guard our ports again since drug lords might carry out their operations through them," he added.

Last week, elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the local police seized some P30 million worth of shabu in Caloocan City.

Agents of the National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force also arrested three suspected drug peddlers during a raid in Taytay, Rizal.

Earlier, authorities arrested five Taiwanese nationals on a raid on a suspected shabu laboratory at Mayuga compound, MIA Road, Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.

Morales also alerted his men from the Enforcement and Security Service and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service to tighten the watch on the smuggling of firearms, ammunitions and explosives.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said all cargoes and luggage coming from the so-called high-risk countries like Thailand, China, Taiwan, United States and Afghanistan will be placed under extensive scanning. He said these countries are known importers of prohibited substances and firearms.

Morales said it would be easier for them to detect illegal substances in a shipment given new high-tech equipment in major port districts.

Late last year, Customs operatives seized six kilos of Ecstasy pills worth P10 million. The cargo came from Bangkok, Thailand on board a Kuwait Airlines. — Edu Punay