Vietnamese vessel carrying suspected shabu chemical held in Bacolod

MANILA, Philippines - A Vietnamese bulk carrier was placed on hold by authorities in Bacolod City last Wednesday morning after it was reportedly found unloading at least 50 sacks of suspected ephedrine, a primary substance used in manufacturing shabu.

Reports said personnel of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) stumbled upon the contraband while inspecting the 2,551-gross-ton M/V Trai Thien 66.

The vessel was docked at the Bredco Port in Bacolod City and had already unloaded 50 bags of the substance at the pier.

In the inward foreign manifest submitted to the BOC, the ship was supposed to be carrying 77,000 bags of long white rice, of which 25 percent were broken rice, in 50-kilogram polyphopelene bags reportedly with the marking “NFA.”

But the BOC sought the help of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to conduct a field test on the cargo, showing that it was allegedly 60 percent sure as ephedrine.

However, the PDEA decided to conduct a more thorough study of the shipment, with the results expected within 24 hours.

The BOC also solicited the help of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to make sure that the vessel would not be able to leave the port while the investigation is ongoing.

The ship, reportedly owned and operated by Trai Thien Shipping Co. Ltd., has 18 Vietnamese crewmen led by captain Bui Van Chinh.

Commodore William Melad, PCG-Western Visayas District head, said the BOC instructed a hold order operation on M/V Trai Thien 66 after 48 undeclared sacks of a substance suspected to be ephedrine were reportedly found on board the vessel.