NAIA Customs intercepts 73kg of shabu hidden in industrial machinery from Mexico — worth 496.41 million pesos

📌 On Friday, October 2, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) NAIA district office inspected a shipment originating from Guadalajara, Mexico at a warehouse in Pasay City and discovered approximately 73kg of shabu (methamphetamine) hidden inside industrial machinery. Valued at an estimated street value of 496.41 million pesos, the seized goods were publicly presented by the Bureau of Customs on Monday, October 5.

■ Case Details
· The shipment arrived in the Philippines on Saturday, September 26.
· The declared item was a 'pelletizing machine,' and the drugs were concealed inside the tubular molds of the equipment.
· The confiscated amount totaled 73,002g, which tested positive for methamphetamine.

■ Investigation and Current Status
· The BOC worked jointly with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the confiscated items were turned over to PDEA. No arrests have been reported.
· Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno issued a warning against drug smuggling utilizing regular cargo, stating, "Even if smugglers change their routes, methods, and concealment techniques, our resolve remains the same."
· The Manila Times reported that this appears to be the largest single drug seizure ever recorded at NAIA.

■ Notes for Residents and Travelers
· Do not carry or accept luggage or packages from strangers on their behalf. Drug smuggling disguised as regular cargo is actively being detected.
· It is safest to decline requests to receive overseas shipments or courier packages under your own name.

■ Sources
GMA News (10/5), The Manila Times (10/6), Philstar (10/6)