XIP busts another illegal drug shipment at NAIA

THE X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under Atty. Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang, continues to demonstrate its vigilance after it identified an outbound shipment of illegal drugs at the DHL Express Gateway warehouse, Ninoy Aquino International Airport last May 8, 2023.

The 560 grams or more than half a kilo of shabu worth P3.808 million concealed and misdeclared as “eyelash sets, electric hair dryers, and electric hairbrushes,” immediately raised suspicion from the XIP officers leading to the physical inspection of the cargo and the discovery of the illegal drugs.

“Both the shipper and consignee are currently undergoing investigation by PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) for the initiation of corresponding inquest proceedings for the violation of RA 9165 and RA 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization Act (CMTA),” the BOC statement reads.

The identity of the suspects and the destination of the illegal drugs were not disclosed by the BOC, however.

Since reassuming the post as head of the XIP, Mangaoang has boosted the morale and confidence of its field officers leading to sensational seizures of illicit cargos such as the discovery last March 20, 2023, at the Paircargo Warehouse in Pasay City of 58.93 kilos of imported shabu from West Africa valued at more than P400 million. It is to date the biggest illegal drug seizure by the government at the point of entry (see also Pinoy Exposé, March 21, 2023).

In the same month of March, the XIP was also instrumental in the interdiction and seizure of illegal drugs on 3 other separate occasions (see the article here).

P4.4 million cigarettes seized at Zambo port

Earlier last May 5, 2023, the Port of Zamboanga district collector, Arthur Sevilla, reported to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio their interception of motorized banca, ‘NADZ’ loaded with 126 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth more than P4.4 million.

Sevilla said a joint team from the bureau’s ‘Water Patrol Division’ under the Enforcement and Security Service (WPD-ESS), along with personnel from the Zamboanga City Police Mobile Force Company (Seaborne) spotted the banca in the vicinity of Bgy. Recodo, Zamboanga City with 4 crew members.

After boarding, the crew were unable to present any document to show the regularity of the importation leading to their detention and the seizure of their cargo.

Sevilla said further investigation disclosed the watercraft came from Jolo, Sulu, bound for Zamboanga City when apprehended.

The latest seizure came in the wake of destruction last April 28, 2023, of more than P1.43 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes the Port of Zamboanga had seized from the first quarter of this year (see also Pinoy Exposé, April 29, 2023).