MANILA, May 8 -- Customs officers at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) intercepted some PHP56.4 million worth of shabu concealed in appliances inside a balikbayan box that arrived in the country from Thailand.

In a statement Wednesday, Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS) director Verne Enciso said the contraband was discovered in plastic pouches hidden inside two electric fans and five water heaters on Tuesday.

He said the CIIS Field Station-MICP received "derogatory information" about the shipment that arrived from Thailand on April 7, which was initially declared to contain household items, shoes and motor parts.

A 100 percent physical examination yielded a total of 8.294 kg. of sh...