Government agents assigned to Ninoy Aquino International Airport have seized a smuggled shipment of shabu worth over P109 million at a Customs-bonded warehouse in Pasay City.
The operation was carried out by a composite team from the Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Group, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA, and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
The shipment, declared as towels and clothes, arrived from Hanoi, Vietnam.
Following the detection of suspicious images during X-ray screening on Monday, a 100-percent physical examination was conducted, which led to the discovery of 16,150 grams of shabu in three styrofoam boxes.
The seized illegal drugs were turned over to PDEA for proper disposition and further investigation.
The two representatives of the consignee logistics company were arrested on-site in violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno praised the swift action of the personnel involved.
“This interception highlights the Bureau’s vigilance and dedication to preventing drug syndicates from using legitimate trade channels for illicit operations. Our commitment to border protection remains steadfast and uncompromising,” he said.
NAIA District Collector Alexandra Lumontad added: “The success of this operation demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-driven profiling and inter-agency coordination. BOC-NAIA will continue to uphold its mandate to ensure that our airports remain secure against any form of smuggling or illegal drug activity.”
