MANILA: Bureau of Customs operatives seized recently 16 grams of illegal drugs hidden inside a pair of ladies sandals in a parcel bound for Saudi Arabia.
Customs Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Ariel Nepomuceno said the methamphethamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P165,000 was found in several heat sealed transparent plastic sachets and wrapped in carbon paper concealed in the heels of the sandals.
The package was sent by a certain Adela Salmero to a Jennylen Simbrano through Jesse Youssef, with address at Khamis General Hospital, Military City Road, Khamis Mushayat, Saudi Arabia via an international logistics company.
It also contained several shirts, underwear and another pair of sandals.
Customs police at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport subjected the package to an X-ray examination following derogatory information received by the Enforcement Group’s Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF).
“Drug smugglers are always experimenting on new ways to transport drugs and elude law enforcers. On our part we are exerting all efforts to curb the rampant smuggling of illegal drugs in the country,” he said in a statement.
A physical examination on the parcel revealed that three sachets of shabu were hidden in the right shoe while four sachets were hidden in the left shoe.
“We are increasing our monitoring of all inbound and outbound cargo, whether by ship, freight, aircraft to ensure that the Philippines does not become a trans-shipment point for illegal drugs,” Nepomuceno said.
The sachets containing shabu were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for further examination and investigation.
Last June, the BOC also stopped attempts to ship out air parcels with around P1.5 million worth of shabu hidden in a box of diapers, picture frame, rice cooker, and tucked between sheaves of documents.
