By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted a foreign passenger carrying suspected shabu at the arrival area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Friday.
In a statement on Saturday, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the passenger, a German national, who arrived on a connecting flight from Addis Ababa, was flagged after an X-ray inspection detected irregular images during routine non-intrusive baggage screening on Feb. 13.
Customs examiners conducted a physical examination and discovered a white crystalline substance concealed in a false compartment in the baggage lining and hidden inside two hollowed-out Bible books, wrapped in multiple layers of plastic and duct tape.
The seized substance weighed approximately 8,145 grams, valued at PHP55.38 million.
A K9 sweep and field testing yielded positive indications for shabu.
The operation was conducted jointly by BOC-NAIA, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The passenger and seized items were turned over to PDEA for investigation and inquest proceedings for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and RA 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Nepomuceno noted that the seizure reflects the bureau’s sustained enforcement posture across all ports of entry.
“We are tightening our controls through technology, intelligence, and inter-agency coordination. Our message is clear – attempts to bring illegal drugs into the country will be detected, intercepted, and prosecuted,” he said.
On the other hand, NAIA District Collector Yasmin Obillos-Mapa underscored the critical role of technology in front-line enforcement, emphasizing that the successful interception demonstrated the effectiveness of the X-ray Inspection Project and the bureau’s layered examination process in detecting concealed contraband and enabling prompt enforcement action. (PNA)
