Three suspects were found guilty of violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act after conducting the shipment of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” packed in aluminum pallets carrying sacks of tapioca starch, said the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday.

The accused, Muktasil Abundol Asimuddin, Emmanuel Paulo Delos Reyes, and George Fernandez, were found to have imported a total of 148.80972 kilograms of “shabu,” which was valued at ₱998,306,096.00.

The three were charged with importation of dangerous drugs by means of false and fraudulent invoice declarations, having declared the shipment as only containing tapioca starch when it also held shabu.

Each was sentenced to reclusion perpetua and imposed a fine of ₱50,000,000.

The shipment was abandoned in early 2019. A white powder falling from an aluminum pellet was discovered while it was being lifted by a forklift.