BOC heightens ports monitoring against illegal drugs shipments

TAGOLOAN, Misamis Oriental — The Bureau of Customs (BOC-10) has heightened its monitoring of main port and sub-ports here following the confirmation by the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) of the seized 320 drums of hydrochloric acid, a component used in making methamphetamine, an addictive ice or crystal meth stimulant locally known as "shabu".

"A warrant of seizure and detention was issued by Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, upon the request of Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval, head of the Intelligence Group, against the shipment of Juchem Enterprises, consisting of 4x20 container vans said to contain hydrochloric acid 35 shipped from India to the Mindanao Container Terminal in the subport of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental," Intelligence Office II Alvin Enciso, chief of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), said.

PDEA, in its Chemistry Report released February 15, 2017, cited that the "qualitative examinations conducted on the specimens A to P gave POSITIVE result for the presence of Hydrochloric acid."

It further said that the specimens that contain Hydrochloric acid is "a controlled precursor and essential chemical under Republic Act 9165" or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act."

With this, PDEA is pursuing the filing of cases against the importer, Juchem Enterprises.

"We, in our part, with the result of the lab result, have already forwarded our recommendations to the head office for the filing of a smuggling case against the importer. There is no turning back, kasi dapat prior to importation, may mga import permits na from PDEA, DENR, FDA," Enciso said.

Apart from being a regulated item, the violations include lack of permit for controlled precursor and essential chemical from PDEA/DDB, lack of permit to import from PNP Firearms and Explosive Office, lack of FDA permit license, and lack of DENR import permit.

"Under the instructions of President Rodrigo Duterte in his thrust to stop illegal drugs, kasama ang pagbabantay internally ng BOC sa pagpasok ng raw materials and finished products entering the country through our borders. This is to assist in the external operations of PDEA and the Philippine National Police," he added.

“Deputy Commissioner Raval has instructed us to heighten the alert level in monitoring shipments with possible illegal drugs raw materials or finished products in all the ports here,” said Enciso.

"Hihigpitan namin ng 10 times sa border to help PDEA and the PNP within our means and jurisdiction, as well as, strategic operations," Enciso said.

Containerized shipment normally arrive at the MCT in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, while bulk shipments arrive in Cagayan de Oro port, Iligan subport and Ozamiz subport.

Enciso said the chemicals, if it went to the wrong hands, may produce hundreds of millions worth of shabu.