P22.5-million shabu seized from Ugandan woman

MANILA, Philippines - The Task Force on Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals (TFDDCC) of the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized some 4.5 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with a street value of P22.5 million from a Ugandan passenger Saturday night.

TFDDCC chief Sherwin Andrada said it took them about an hour to dismantle the suitcase of Josephine Balikuddembe, 52, who arrived in the country on board Emirates Flight EK334 at past 10 p.m.

Andrada with Customs collector for passengers services Tess Roque and Customs police chief Col. Marlon Alameda invited Balikuddembe at their office after she got her suitcase from the conveyor.

The shabu was wrapped in a brown plastic envelope concealed in between the double-layered hard plastic of the luggage.

“If we did not receive any information, nobody would think there was shabu inside,” said Andrada.

Balikuddembe said a distant relative whom she identified as Uchuku Martin lent her the suitcase. She said she was not aware that something was hidden in it.

 She said Martin also told her to take a taxi and proceed immediately to B hotel in Ayala, Alabang upon her arrival in Manila.