CAGAYAN DE ORO, Sept. 9 - Over 320 drums of Hydrochloric Acid have been turned-over by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cagayan de Oro to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 10 (PDEA 10) Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Mindanao Container Terminal Sub-port, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
The hydrochloric acid is a precursor chemical for the manufacture of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu."
It was intercepted by the Bureau of Customs at MCT sub-port in 2017 shipped from India and was found out that the shipment consigned to Juchem Enterprises has no corresponding permit.
The BOC immediately recommended the issuance of "Warrant of Seizure and Detention" for the said shipment.
Port Collector John Simon said "this is in compliance with the order of President Rodrigo Duterte and Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to guard port of entries from illegal shipments."
"This illegal drugs do not come in as finish product in our country but they come as precursor chemicals that is why we have to be alert," Simon said.
BOC-10 will also strengthen its partneship with PDEA to strictly monitor the entry of illegal drugs and its precursor chemicals.
After the signing of the memorandum of turn-over, the PDEA shall now take charge of the custody of the hydrochloric acid for appropriate handling.
Director Emerson Rosales of PDEA-10 said they would now file a "Petition for Destruction" to ensure the chemicals will be disposed of properly and will not be used illegally.
The chemicals are estimated to cost 20 million pesos. (BOC10)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments