Customs, airport authorities confiscate high grade shabu from Malaysian

MANILA, Philippines - Customs and Manila International Airport Authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 confiscated some 10 kilos of high grade me­tamphetamine, locally known as “shabu” from a Malaysian who arrived from Bangkok on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 733.

Customs collector for passenger servi­ces Teresita Roque said that despite the absence of X-ray machine that broke down earlier at the Carousel 5, Customs examiner Manuel Mendoza, together with customs duty collector Romulo Mahor with their ins­tinct and good profiling caught Hou Eng Pheow, a Malaysian drug courier with his shipment.

Roque said Hou seemed so nervous when Mendoza asked him about the content of his luggage and instead of answering, he tried to get out of the Customs area seemingly looking for someone.

The luggage was inspected by Customs staff in the presence of MIAA general manager Melvin Matibag and Task Force on Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals chief Sherwin Andradar. The luggage of Hou, contained 10 plastic parcels hidden in a false-buttom of his luggage.

Matibag lauded the customs personnel responsible for intercepting the drugs despite the absence of X-ray machines on Carousel 5 where the hot cargo was dislodged. Roque and Matibag said the shipment’s street value was P100 million.