Philippine customs authorities have seized approximately 43 kilograms of methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth or shabu, from a shipment that originated in Afghanistan and arrived at the Manila International Container Port. Officials estimated the street value of the drugs at about $5.1 million, describing the seizure as one of the latest major interceptions linked to international drug trafficking routes from Afghanistan.
Philippine media reported on Sunday, August 23, that the shipment was intercepted during an inspection of two 20-foot shipping containers at the Port of Manila. The operation was carried out jointly by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as part of intensified screening of high-risk cargo.
Authorities said the methamphetamine was concealed inside packages designed to resemble talc stones and hidden among commercial goods in an apparent attempt to evade customs inspections. Officials said traffickers used sophisticated packaging methods to disguise the illicit cargo within a legitimate shipment.
Laboratory tests later confirmed that the seized substance was methamphetamine hydrochloride, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant. Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said intelligence-led inspections and enhanced monitoring of suspicious shipments played a key role in detecting the drugs before they entered the local market.
The seizure is the latest in a series of operations targeting suspected drug trafficking networks linked to Afghanistan. Philippine authorities said investigations are continuing to identify those responsible for the shipment and determine whether it is connected to a broader international trafficking network.
Methamphetamine, widely known in the Philippines as shabu, is one of the country’s most commonly abused illegal drugs. Health experts warn that the stimulant can cause severe addiction, long-term psychological disorders, and serious damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.
