Philippine Authorities Seize Methamphetamine Shipment from Afghanistan Hidden in Marble Cargo

MANILA (Afghan Verified) -- Philippine authorities seized a methamphetamine shipment originating from Afghanistan at Manila International Port this week.

Customs officials reported intercepting a cargo containing 131 packages weighing about 41 kilograms, valued at nearly $5 million. The drugs were falsely declared as marble stone in shipping documents.

Investigators noted that traffickers had concealed the methamphetamine inside hidden steel compartments and container walls, complicating detection during standard inspections. Customs officials described this as the first instance of such concealment methods in shipments officially carrying real marble cargo.

Philippine authorities highlighted methamphetamine trafficking as a serious concern in Southeast Asia, where ports are frequent targets of international smuggling networks. Afghanistan has long been associated with narcotics trafficking routes, with smuggling techniques evolving to evade border detection.

In response to the seizure, customs officials announced plans to acquire advanced AI-powered X-ray scanners to enhance drug detection at major ports.