Returning Filipino Caught with Shabu Charged by BOC

A returning Filipino from Hong Kong is now in deep trouble after Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials led by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon formally charged him today (January 24, 2013) at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for violation of Section 3601 and Section 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) including the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Charged was Roendo B. Ariata who was caught by alert airport customs officials with 7.0486 kilograms of Methampethamine Hydrochloride or “shabu” that were concealed in seven (7)  rectangular boxes labeled “Gold Premium Milk” and stuffed in his luggage. The “shabu” haul was worth Php 56 million.

According to Biazon, Ariata arrived at theNinoyAquinoInternationalAirport–Terminal 2 via Philippine Airlines flight no.  PR 307 on January 8, 2013.

 “We have now doubled our efforts in the monitoring of arriving passengers, especially those coming from high risk countries for illegal drugs, after we have seen a shift in the modus of international drug traffickers.” Biazon said. “They are now using the airports for their illegal drug trade through drug mules.” The Commissioner added.

 The BOC, during the third quarter of 2012 alone confiscated over 20 kilos of “shabu” from seven foreign nationals worth over Php 163 million. All have already been charged by the BOC at the DOJ for violation of the TCCP and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“I have said it once and I will say it once again. The Bureau of Customs will never allow any international drug trafficking syndicate to make thePhilippinesas a transshipment point for their illegal drugs, much more make thePhilippinesas one of their markets.” Biazon said, adding that. “Customs officials will, at all times, be on the watch for illegal drugs smuggling attempts and we will not hesitate to prosecute all those involved it.”

The January 8 drug seizure is the first illegal drugs haul of the BOC for the year.

For his part, BOC Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group (RCMG) and Run-After-The-Smugglers (RATS) Head Peter Manzano said, they will closely monitor the progress of the case they have filed today, if only to ensure that illegal drug traffickers are jailed, where they rightfully belong.

-- BOC 25 January 2013