PASAY CITY — The Bureau of Customs and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seized more than ₱199.7 million worth of suspected illegal drugs from a shipment declared as personal effects from Canada, authorities said Monday.

The shipment, consisting of 15 boxes, was intercepted at a warehouse in Pasay after the BOC X-ray Inspection Project detected suspicious images during screening, the bureau said.

Customs authorities issued an Alert Order and conducted a 100% physical examination of the shipment.

Six boxes were found to contain 28 cans holding about 28,324 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, with an estimated standard drug price of ₱192.603 million, according to the BOC.

Another box contained about 4,746 grams of suspected high-grade marijuana, or kush, valued at ₱7.119 million.

Authorities also discovered 20 towels and 20 duvets suspected of containing liquid methamphetamine.

Samples from the suspected shabu, marijuana and liquid methamphetamine tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride and cannabis in laboratory examinations conducted by PDEA, the BOC said.

The operation involved personnel from PDEA, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, Enforcement and Security Service, X-ray Inspection Project, NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group and other agencies.

BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the seizure highlighted the importance of intelligence-driven profiling, X-ray screening and coordination among law enforcement agencies in stopping illegal drugs from entering the country.

“We will not allow our airports to be used as a route for illegal drugs,” Nepomuceno said. He added that improved technology, intelligence and coordination would strengthen authorities’ ability to detect and intercept suspicious shipments.

BOC-NAIA District Collector Yasmin O. Mapa said the port would continue strengthening shipment screening and coordination with partner agencies to prevent drug smuggling through the country’s main international gateway.

The BOC said the operation was part of the government’s continuing campaign against illegal drugs and smuggling and its efforts to strengthen border protection through intelligence, technology and inter-agency coordination. (Bureau of Customs Press Release)