New shabu haul seized at NAIA

Customs authorities foiled on Friday an alleged attempt by a Taiwanese national to smuggle into the country five kilos of shabu worth P10 million.

Customs Deputy Commissioner Ray Allas said the contraband was concealed in a ceramic jar brought in by Hsu Jui-Chang who was apprehended while clearing his luggage through the Customs zone at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

It was the second smuggling attempt uncovered at the NAIA in four days.

On Tuesday, Customs examiners under district collector Celso Templo confiscated 39.7 kilos of shabu with a street value of about P80 million.

Immigration records showed that Hsu is a frequent visitor to Manila.

Prior to his arrest, he was last here on Feb. 2.

Allas said judging from the number of Hsu’s visits to Manila, it was possible the Taiwanese could have brought in about a hundred kilos of shabu.

He expressed suspicion, however, that Hsu might just be a courier of an international drug syndicate based in mainland China.

Authorities ordered the detention of two Customs brokers who reportedly worked for the release of the 40 kilos of shabu brought in by a Federal Express plane which landed at the Subic freeport in Zambales from Hong Kong.

It was so far the biggest shipment of shabu confiscated by the Customs at the NAIA.

Templo said the contraband, concealed in two large boxes containing the jars, came from Guangzhou in China and was consigned to a certain Salacop Baraomtong of Barangay Daang-hari in Quezon City.

Templo said they were looking at the possibility that a local firm, JM Laurente Brokerage, was involved in drug trafficking.

Two personnel of the company, identified as Deogracias Deduyo and Luisito Pabilonia were ordered held for questioning.