THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Northern Mindanao is pressing charges against the importers of 320 drums of hydrochloric acid, a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu.”
The drums of hydrochloric acid were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Mindanao Container Terminal sub-port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, last Thursday, February 16.
PDEA-Northern Mindanao agent Ben Kalibre said the consignee Juchem Enterprises based in Butuan City, will have to face violations of the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulations specifically on the requirements for registration/ licensing, permit/authorization of controlled substance and applications for import, export and transit permits.
The consignee will also be charged with violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for the importation of controlled precursors and essential chemicals without license and permit to import.
"Mao nag request ang PDEA sa Bureau of Customs nga i-hold ang maong imported goods. Mao ni ang mga kaso recommended nga i-file. Pag-adto sa atong mga kauban, nakita nga walay license to import ang consignee (That’s why the PDEA requested the Bureau of Customs to put the imported goods on hold. These are the charges recommended to be filed. When I went there with my fellow officer, we saw that the consignee has no license to import)," Kalibre added.
Kalibre said the consignee only has license for local distribution and retail of controlled chemical but has no license to import such.
The imported chemical from India arrived at the port on February 1, 2017.
Kalibre said the day after the imported goods docked at the port, a client whom he refused to name, approached the PDEA's compliance section and asked for requirements for the transport of imported hydrochloric acid from India.
Kalibre said they were surprised upon learning from the BOC that the shipment has already arrived.
Kalibre said the BOC might have asked the client the transport requirements but was not able to comply.
“Ang among duda, gipangayoan siya sa BOC pero wala siya maka-comply (We think the BOC asked for the requirements but he wasn’t able to comply),” Kalibre said.
Kalibre said the anti-narcotics agency coordinated with the PDEA office in Butuan City to check the background of the consignee.
However, the supposed inspection at Juchem enterprises failed due to the absence of the owner.
Kalibre said the inspection is conducted to erase doubts that the said chemical will be used in manufacturing “shabu.”
Kalibre emphasized that the imported chemical, which is a component of shabu, can also be used for other purposes such as manufacturing organic or inorganic compounds.
"Kini nga ingredient dili lang ni component para sa shabu pero gamit gihapon ni like paglimpyo sa makina og pag-manufacture sa mga (This ingredient is not only a component in shabu-making but it can also be used to clean machines and in manufacturing) organic or inorganic compounds," Kalibre said.