Government agents have intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) a Turkish national with a luggage loaded with cocaine worth more than P28.8 million
Operatives from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), and the Inter Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG) apprehended Kemal Ozenir upon his arrival at Terminal 3.
The suspect arrived from Dubai via Emirates Airlines flight EK332 Tuesday afternoon.
XIP personnel put an X marking after seeing suspicious images at the luggage. CIIS and other operatives assigned at the airport then placed the luggage under physical examination resulting in the discovery of 3,945 grams and 1,500 milliliter of white thick liquid substance.
“After the IADTG received the information (from Homeland Security), immediately we are on the lookout for this person and his luggage. An initial test done on the luggage showed it was positive for the presence of cocaine,” said Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio, who responded to the situation after receiving the report from CIIS director Verne Enciso.
“The information we received and the quick action we took to stop the contraband’s entry led to the capture of the suspect in this case,” he added.
In October, Customs agents assigned at the airport arrested a Norwegian tourist caught with a baggage containing more than eight kilos of shabu worth P56.7 million.
The suspect brought in the baggage also from Dubai via Emirates Airlines EK334 and the point of origin was Johannesburg, South Africa.
Airport authorities have heightened vigilance in the campaign against illegal drug trafficking in a bid to discourage international drug syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point for illegal substance.