Magnetic lifters suspected to have contained illegal drugs found in Cavite

August 10, 2018

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday discovered four magnetic lifters suspected to contain methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known as shabu, in a warehouse in Lot 1-18, CRS Subdivision, Barangay F. Reyes in Governor Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

The discovery stemmed from the ongoing investigation of around 500 kilograms of shabu concealed inside a magnetic lifter that was intercepted by combined operatives of PDEA, Phlippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), North Harbor, Manila on August 7.

On August 9, operatives of PDEA Regional Offices National Capital Region deployed its two K9s (narcotic detection dogs) to check the presence of illegal drugs on the magnetic lifters.

The K9s positively detected traces of the illegal drug.  But inspection by PDEA and PNP found the magnetic lifters were empty, PDEA said.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino believes that the illegal drugs in the magnetic lifters were  distributed in the streets.

“We are doing our best to address the drug problem in the country. However, it pains me to assume that there are government officials and employees who are helping drug syndicates in facilitating the entry of illegal drugs in our country,” Aquino said.

The magnetic lifters discovered in GMA, Cavite are similar to the seized magnetic lifter in MICT.

The four magnetic lifters were estimated to have contained approximately 1,000 kilos or one ton of shabu with an estimated value of P6.8 billion.

“It is saddening to us, PDEA, to know that this syndicate was able to slip in 1,000 kilos of drugs in our streets. I hope PDEA can seize these illegal drugs,” Aquino said.

Aquino said initial information revealed the illegal drug came from Taiwan, and the syndicate only used Malaysia as transshipment point, adding the Golden Triangle syndicate is behind the shipment. DMS