The Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport has strengthened its partnership with the United States Homeland Security to help crack down on drug smuggling in the Philippines.
In a meeting hosted by NAIA district collector Yasmin Mapa, representatives from the US Homeland Security Investigation Team discussed measures and future collaborations in the fight against the illegal importation of contraband.
Mapa described the meeting with Acting Attache Victor Grigoryan, Assistant Attache Roldan Vasquez, Foreign Service National Investigator Captain Evangeline Morales, and Foreign Service National Investigator Denver Langaman as productive, saying the bureau is optimistic about the progress they can make in the government’s anti-drug campaign.
“The US Homeland Security Investigation team vowed to continue their partnership and collaboration for border security and improvement of international cooperation aligned with the reforms implemented by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio,” said Mapa.
The US Homeland Security plays a vital role in intercepting drug mules and confiscating prohibited substances at the country’s premier airport.
“Their efforts have been instrumental in keeping our communities safe and drug-free. It’s reassuring to know that we have such a competent and dedicated agency looking after our well-being,” a port official said.
Just recently, Customs agents assigned at the airport intercepted a Salvadorian tourist in possession of a backpack with cocaine worth more than P16 million.
The suspect was identified as Franco Domingo, a tourist from El Salvador, who arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 via Qatar Airways flight QR 932 from Doha.
Customs X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) personnel put an X marking after seeing suspicious images at the backpack hand carried by Quintanilla. Examiners immediacy placed the bag under physical examination resulting in the discovery of at least three kilos of cocaine with a street value of P16,536,000.
Prior to foreigner’s arrest, the Bureau of Customs received an email message sent by the Department of Homeland Security which stated:
“This is to coordinate with your good oflice the arrival of suspicious traveler identified as – Domingo, Franco Quintanilla – (Date of Birth: November 20, 1977) and (Passport No. A02333631) was in Brazil and left a couple of weeks ago and is expected to arive in Manila today via OR932 DOHA-MNL). HSI Manila would like to provide information related to this suspicious traveler to act on as your agency deems necessary. Please let us know of the development, if any regarding her travel.”
“After we received this information from the Homeland Security, immediately we are on the lookout for this person and his luggage,” a Customs XIP official told Manila Standard.
Customs and 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.
Early this year, a Turkish national was also caught with a luggage loaded with cocaine worth more than P28.8 million at the airport. The suspect Kemal Ozenir brought in the luggage from Dubai via Emirates Airlines flight EK332
In October, Customs agents also arrested a Norwegian tourist for bringing in a shipment of eight kilos of shabu worth P56.7 million. Joel E. Zurbano