Customs to add K-9 units, X-ray machines in Clark

CLARK FREEPORT -- Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said Bureau of Customs (BOC) will augment its existing X-ray detectors and K-9 units at the Clark International Airport.

Lapeña issued statement during the turnover of the 18 kilos of shabu (crystal meth) worth P90 million to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the BOC Port of Clark on Tuesday.

Lapeña said that the illegal drugs were seized by the BOC Port of Clark, under the leadership of District Collector Maritess T. Martin, last January 25.

“We will continue our vigilance. We will deploy additional X-ray machines and K9 units in Clark,” Lapeña said.

After learning about PDEA’s successful operation which led to the arrest of a couple in Cavite, Martin ordered the BOC officers to “backtrack and profile” shipments within Clark.

She said that the shipments may be similar with the modus of a drug syndicate that had earlier sent illegal drugs to the country using religious items as decoy.

BOC Clark officers decided to put on hold six suspicious cargoes which are identical to the shipments seized last January 23.

The boxes were declared to contain religious items like statues, sculptures, figurines.

The items were originally shipped from Los Angeles, California, USA, and intended to be delivered to the couple in Cavite.

On January 23, BOC Port of Clark and PDEA seized items after receiving a tip from the US Homeland Security.

The packages also came from Southern California and were placed inside six boxes intended for delivery to consignees in Cavite.

“The illegal drugs were all turned over to the custody of PDEA for the conduct of further investigation,” Lapeña said.