MANILA — A significant drug bust involving multiple government agencies resulted in the interception of a major shipment of illegal drugs from Karachi, Pakistan, valued at an estimated PHP 2.7 billion.

The operation, led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in collaboration with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and other law enforcement bodies, successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle over 400 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, into the country.

According to the NBI, the illegal drugs were concealed inside boxes of food products labeled as vermicelli and custards. The shipment, which arrived at the Port of Manila, was sent by Ayan Enterprise/Trading & Logistics and consigned to Red Shinting Consumer Goods Trading, a company based in Las Piñas City. The authorities acted swiftly on intelligence information received from a foreign counterpart, leading to the seizure of 404.95 kilograms of the illegal substance.

The success of the operation also led to the arrest of five individuals allegedly involved in the illegal shipment. Among those apprehended were Oscar Campo Berba, a representative of Red Shinting Consumer Goods Trading; customs brokers Kevin Lee Manuel Arrio and Richard Perlado Aguantar; and freight forwarding company executives Karen Villaflor Sacro and Rey Baysa Gujilde, both of Ark Global Movers.

The suspects are facing charges for violating Section 4 of Republic Act 9165, known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. They were brought to the Department of Justice for Inquest Proceedings, where they are expected to face further legal action.

The NBI and its partner agencies are continuing to investigate the syndicate behind the operation, with further arrests and prosecutions expected.

📷 National Bureau of Investigation