Airport and Customs authorities have heightened vigilance in the campaign against illegal drug trafficking in a bid to discourage international syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point or dumping ground for their illegal substances.
This developed on Wednesday as members of the Aviation Security Group arrested a Chinese national and seized 4.5 kilos of methamphetamine hydro-chloride, locally known as shabu, worth P6.2 million at the Mactan, Cebu International Airport.
Avsegroup chief Mao Aplasca identified the suspect as Liming Zhou, 27, an arriving passenger of Cathay Pacific flight CX921 from Hong Kong. He said his men found 11 packs of shabu inside the suspect’s luggage shortly before noon Wednesday at the airport.
However, during interrogation, the suspect, through an interpreter, denied owning the prohibited items.
Port of Cebu district collector Rey Holganza said Customs agents initially put the suspect on hold after they found suspicious items in her blue luggage while passing the X-ray scanning machine.
The Customs agents then coordinated with Avsegroup policemen who examined the luggage and found 11 packs of suspected shabu weighing 4.05 kilos.
The suspect may be charged with a violation of the Dangerous Drug Act (R.A. 9165) which imposes a penalty of lifetime imprisonment with a fine of P500,000 to P10 million.
Just recently, a Korean national was also caught in possession of 117 grams of marijuana at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
The suspect Eunho Ahn, 24, was later turned over to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
The suspect was about to board her Philippine Airlines flight bound for Busan, South Korea when members of the Office of Transportation Security led by Judy Anne de Belen found the prohibited drugs concealed in her belly.
Aplasca said the OTS men then inspected the suspect’s luggage and discovered assorted tablets, believed to be ecstasy, a dangerous party drug.
The authorities initially brought the suspect to the Manila International Airport Authority medical clinic for physical examination and was turned-over to PDEA for confirmatory testing and for proper disposition.
Airport authorities are implementing stricter measures against smuggled drugs into the country.
Four months ago, they seized P2 million worth of ecstasy and shabu, at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.
A parcel, supposed to be containing amino supplements, was found with 960 ecstasy tablets worth P1.44 million.
Smugglers also used a bicycle to conceal the 53 grams of shabu from Quezon City, bound for Saudi Arabia, while another 16 grams were discovered inside a leather shoes bound for Europe.
Authorities said ecstasy is a Class-A drug, which is an artificial stimulant, popular among clubbers. They added those who take the drug can have a rush of energy which makes them alert, excited and happy.
Those taking the drug can feel anxious or getting panic attacks, and developing confused episodes, paranoia or even psychosis.
There were 200 ecstasy-related deaths reported in the United Kingdom since 2006.