Intelligence officers from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized more than 2.5 million pesos worth of cocaine during a raid on a warehouse in the city of Taguig on Tuesday, November 22.
BOC Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said the operation stemmed from a confirmed intelligence report of illegal drug storage at a storage facility located in the AFP-RSBS Industrial Park at Mile 12 East Service Road in Taguig City.
Armed with a letter of authority issued by Ruiz, BOC personnel from Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) and PDEA Intelligence and Investigation Service (PDEA -IIS), immediately rushed to the area and confiscated 500 grams of cocaine with a market value of 2.65 million pula.
Other items seized were various electronic cigarettes or vape cartridges containing suspected marijuana oil, plus or minus 30 grams of suspected kush (hybrid marijuana), several ID cards, a small transparent glass and plastic tube containing suspected marijuana oil, assorted paraphernalia, a bag of empty capsules and several Ziplock bags containing suspected illegal drug residue.
Ruiz said the Taguig operation follows the seizure of nearly 150 million pesos worth of shabu from an exclusive subdivision in Alabang, Muntinlupa last week.
“One of our greatest assets is the partnership we have with various government agencies. We maximize this relationship by bringing information to the table and acting immediately. This is also why many of our illicit drug operations, in particular, have been successful…because we have a comprehensive approach,” Ruiz said.
Besides the BOC and PDEA, the Philippine National Police and the National Intelligence Coordination Agency (NICA) also sent reinforcement teams to the operation.
The BOC’s deputy commissioner, retired military general Juvymax Uy, has vowed to go after anyone who is behind the illegal drugs seized.
“Being able to stop the entry and proliferation of illegal drugs is my top priority as Deputy Commissioner now. The agency is working very hard to achieve its mandate and perform its functions at full capacity,” he said.
Uy said the evidence seized will be turned over to the PDEA laboratory service “for qualitative and quantitative review” and also for the filing of appropriate charges.
For his part, CIIS Director Jeoffrey Tacio highlighted the vital support BOC receives from the Marcos administration.
“Eliminating the trafficking of illegal drugs and all other contraband is the cornerstone of this agency. These operations demonstrate our commitment to this cause. Moving forward, we have stepped up this fight and fulfilled the tasks promised by our President to protect the country’s borders and market and ensure that our society remains drug-free,” Tacio said.
Other BOC offices involved in the drug raid are the Customs Intelligence Division (ID) and the Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force Security Services (CAIDTF-ESS).
SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY NEWSLETTER
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
