Valenzuela City first district representative Wes Gatchalian called on the House of Representatives to investigate the Bureau of Customs whose express lane system allowed the entry of a cargo from China of more than 500 kg of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) with an estimated value of P 5 B last May 23, 2017.
The illegal shipment was discovered on May 30 when members of the Bureau of Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation personnel raided a warehouse on Aster Street in Paso de Blas, Valenzuela City, based on a tip coming from their Chinese counterparts.
The consignee of the subject cargo carrying the shabu was identified as EMT Trading.
“First of all allow me to congratulate our law enforcement for their successful seizure and apprehension of these illegal drugs. The people of Valenzuela are one with you in making sure that our city is drug-free.” said Gatchalian.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to warn those who would attempt to make our city a haven for their nefarious activities, that we will not tolerate any of these and that our local police force will work 24/7 until every single laboratory or warehouse sheltering these illegal drugs are found out.” he added.
In his House Resolution 1057, Gatchalian highlights how it was alarming that the BOC allowed the subject cargo to pass through the “green lane”, notwithstanding the fact that compared to other cargoes carrying the same declared contents, the subject cargo weighed nearly twice the normal weight.
The drugs, which had been divided into smaller amounts and packed into plastic bags, were found inside five metal insulators used for printing presses.
The agents became suspicious after noting how heavy the insulators were. Normally weighing just 100 kilos each, the ones in the shipment weighed almost twice as much.
“I am calling for this investigation because people have to be accountable in this government. With the marching orders of the president from the first day he stepped in office in cracking down on illegal drugs, all of us here should be in the same page as a team.
Local enforcement efforts will not work if those standing at the gates of our country would be lax with their duties.” said Gatchalian.
“This is also an opportunity for the lawmakers to review our laws to fill in gaps so that once and for all we are able to have a truly comprehensive answer to the drug problem in the country.” he added.
Resolution 1057 was referred to the Committee on Dangerous Drugs and the committee is scheduled to hear and conduct hearing on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. | Office of Cong. Wes Gatchalian
