Government agents arrested a Filipina passenger caught in possession of more than P40 million worth of shabu Friday morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The suspect”•Marie Ruzol, a resident of Marikina City”•was caught with six kilos of shabu at the NAIA Terminal 3 after she arrived on board Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J-258 from Siem Reap, Cambodia around 4 a.m.
Customs-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said Ruzol’s backpack was subjected to X-ray scanning which yielded images of suspected dangerous drugs.
She added her men placed the baggage under 100-percent physical examination and discovered the prohibited substance concealed in a tea foil pack.
“The passenger and the six kilos of shabu shall be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for the institution of inquest proceedings,” said Talusan.
She said the suspect would be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165) in relation to Sections 118 (Prohibited Importation), 1113 (Goods Liable for Seizure and Forfeiture) and 1401 (Unlawful Importation) of the Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Talusan said similar shipments of shabu from Siem Reap, Cambodia were also seized in Terminal 1 and in Terminal 3 last October.
Talusan earlier assured the bureau remains vigilant against the entry of prohibited drugs and other contraband at the airport.
“The Bureau of Customs is very much on board in the country’s war against drugs and we will exert our efforts to continue protecting our nation and prevent the use of our ports in the smuggling of illegal drugs into the country,” she said.
Talusan said the Customs bureau is closely coordinating with other law enforcement agencies like PDEA in its campaign against smuggling of prohibited drugs.
Since Aug. 30, 2017, Customs-NAIA has also been very proactive and relentless in its effort to combat the smuggling of illegal drugs.
The bureau was able to intercept an estimated P3.436 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested a total of 23 drug personalities.
PDEA officials said methamphetamine hydrochloride, marijuana and party drug ecstasy are the top three narcotics distributed in the streets and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese and Mexican drug syndicates.