The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated ₱42.5 million worth of illegal drugs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 following a joint operation with airport authorities and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on October 28.
The BOC-NAIA said about 6,250 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, were discovered inside the hand-carried baggage of an arriving passenger from Addis Ababa. Suspicious images appeared during a routine x-ray screening, prompting further inspection and field testing.
Tests later confirmed the presence of shabu. The passenger and the seized contraband were turned over to the PDEA for investigation and the filing of criminal charges.
Customs officials said the interception was made possible through enhanced screening procedures and coordination among enforcement agencies.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the operation underscores the bureau’s commitment to “securing our borders and protecting the nation from illegal drugs.”
