400 Grams Cocaine Shipment Seized at GenSan Port

December 2, 2020

Photo from Inquirer.net

Port of Dadiangas, Makar Wharf, Brgy. Labangal, General Santos City (December 2, 2020). The concealment techniques of illegal drug smugglers proved no match to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Davao, under District Collector Atty. Erastus Sandino B. Austria’s enhanced coordination and cooperation with the public and private sector in its campaign against smuggling, particularly on contraband like illegal drugs.

In coordination with PDEA Region XII Director Naravy D. Duquiatan, the Sub-port of Dadiangas, which is under the supervision of the BOC Davao District Office, seized more or less 400 grams of suspected cocaine inside an empty reefer van of APL/CMA-CGM with container number APRU5836108 on November 30, 2020 at the International Repair Services (IRS) in Brgy. Labangal General Santos City.

In a press conference held on December 2 at the PDEA Regional Office in General Santos City, the seizure was prompted by an informant’s tip when an aircon technician trying to fix the van’s airconditioning system discovered the suspected cocaine concealed in the van’s aircon condenser. Immediately upon the order of District Collector Austria, a thorough and exhaustive investigation on the incident was conducted and Subport Collector Elenita Abano of the Port of Dadiangas issued a Mission Order to form a composite team, in coordination with other concerned agencies and conducted follow up and expanded investigation on the other empty container vans in the yard.

The BOC is currently backtracking the movements of the containerized reefer van that had concealed cocaine in it.

“We will never allow the Port of Davao and its sub-ports to be used as entry point of illegal drugs,” Austria said, adding that, “ In light of this seizure, I have ordered all BOC frontliners to be more vigilant during their watch.”

For her part Abano, reiterated Austria’s order to enhance the monitoring of shipments entering the country. “There could be attempts to take advantage of the holiday season to try to sneak illegal drugs into the country. That is why we should be even more alert during the holidays,” Abano said.

###