MANILA, Philippines — Philippine security and interior officials have intensified border surveillance and intelligence-sharing with neighboring countries following the confiscation of approximately 200 kilograms of shabu at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated that the heightened protocols aim to block alternative smuggling routes after law enforcement agencies successfully disrupted two major trafficking methods attempted by international syndicates.
The first operation involved a ₱3.5 billion methamphetamine shipment intercepted in Laos, while the most recent case yielded ₱1.3 billion worth of the illicit substance hidden inside a shipping container at the MICP.
“Well, they are having a hard time at sea because we intercepted about 17 tons on the open sea so now they are trying to go through other routes,” Remulla said.
“So from now on, we’re going to flag all shipments coming from Laos—we’ll check if there are actually drugs involved, since they (drug syndicates) tend to hide them when sending items here.”
“As for the one from yesterday—that was the first time I’ve ever seen something like that, hidden inside the cardboard—but it also came from Laos,” he added.
The 40-foot container, which arrived after passing through Haiphong, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, contained the illegal drugs cleverly concealed within four packs nestled among roughly 50 boxes declared as cardboard.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. noted that a comprehensive inquiry is underway to trace potential connections to broader transnational drug trafficking networks.
“Our priority is to identify those behind these operations, disrupt their supply routes, and ensure that the Philippines will never become a safe passage for international drug syndicates,” Nartatez stated.
Authorities are currently scrutinizing the shipment’s consignee and enhancing cooperative intelligence networks with domestic and international counterparts to secure global trade routes against further infiltration.