MANILA — Personnel of the Bureau of Customs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) have found suspected drugs worth P114.5 million that were concealed in “malachite stones” from the Congo.
Officers conducted a more thorough check after noticing strange images on the x-ray of the package from Congo, which was initially identified as malachite stones.
According to the BOC, “The examination uncovered four boxes containing suspected illegal drugs weighing 4,320 grams, 3,622 grams, 4,599 grams, and 4,307 grams, respectively, with a total weight of 16,848 grams.”
Photos from the BOC suggest that the substances found might be shabu.
Both the contraband and the individuals engaged in the importation have already been turned up by authorities to the PDEA.
They are accused of violating both Republic Act No. 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Customs and anti-narcotics operatives said the stones were unusually heavy and emitted a strong chemical odor, prompting a closer inspection using scanning equipment. When officers cut several pieces open, they discovered packets of suspected narcotics wrapped in plastic and carbon paper, a common technique used to mask scent and scanner signatures.
The total volume of seized drugs was later valued at approximately P114.5 million.
Authorities are now investigating how the shipment entered the country, who financed it, and who was supposed to receive it. Intelligence units are also coordinating with international law enforcement agencies to trace the source of the cargo and identify the syndicate behind the operation.
Officials said the origin of the shipment suggests the involvement of a transnational drug trafficking group, using Africa-to-Asia routes to move narcotics. The case has been referred to specialized task forces handling international narcotics and customs fraud.
No suspects have yet been publicly identified, but authorities confirmed that controlled deliveries, financial tracking, and forensic examinations are underway. Criminal charges are expected to be filed for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and customs laws.
Noting that smugglers are increasingly employing inventive concealment techniques to carry illicit substances, officials also warned that the public and the trading community to remain vigilance.
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