As the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continues its probe into the P4.3 billion worth of shabu which were smuggled inside two magnetic lifters at the Manila International Container Port and the close to P9 billion worth of shabu also smuggled inside four similar magnetic lifters which were found in GMA, Cavite, Senator Dick Gordon called on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to fortify its arsenal as it battles a new level of war against drug smuggling.
This, after the committee chairman established that the empty magnetic lifters delivered to the CRS Compound warehouse in Cavite have been used to smuggle the shabu into the country.
“Magagaling na yan ngayon. Lahat pwedeng itago ngayon. Andami ng equipment na ginagamit. Sa hearing na to, we were able to establish na talagang may drugs na lumabas. The war on drugs has taken a different tone, not only here but throughout the whole world. Yung mga droga na ito, pumapasok na ngayon through heavy equipment at more sophisticated. We are fighting a new war and we have to have new weapons,” Gordon said.
“The war on drugs has taken a different tone, not only here but throughout the whole world.”
The seasoned legislator came to the conclusion that the magnetic lifters found in Cavite contained shabu after the warehouse caretaker testified that seven Chinese men, including two who have rented the warehouse, stayed locked inside the warehouse for four hours before leaving onboard a black Toyota Rav 4 SUV that they had parked inside.
The caretaker said he was asked to turn on the lights after the lifters had been placed inside the warehouse before he was instructed to close the door of the warehouse and leave. As he was closing the door he saw one of the Chinese men approached one of the lifters carrying a grinder. Curious as to what the men were up to, the caretaker tried to peep on the walls. He however stopped after two of the Chinese men came out of the warehouse.
When the news about the seized shabu at the MICP broke out, the caretaker reported to warehouse owner Vicenta Conteprate that forklift operator Angelo Ramilo informed him that the magnetic lifters inside the warehouse were allegedly containers for shabu because the containers were similar to the ones Ramilo saw on the news. Afterwards, Contemprate went to the barangay officials to relay the information.
The veteran lawmaker also established that the magnetic lifters were shipped into the country to conceal smuggled drugs and not for their industrial functions and pointed to the need to train BOC personnel further on how to identify shipments containing contrabands like illegal drugs.
“Magnetic lifters were shipped into the country to conceal smuggled drugs and not for their industrial functions.”
“Ang mga pumapasok na droga ngayon, mas matitindi. Talagang pinag-aaralan na kung paano itatago yung droga. Kaya dapat magtraining ang mga BOC personnel, lalo na ang mga X-ray technicians sa iba’t ibang bansa para matutunan nila ang mga bagong modus operanding ginagamit sa pag-smuggle ng shabu,” the senator said.
