Courtesy: PDEA
A SOUTH African national was arrested by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel for attempting to smuggle six kilograms of shabu with a standard street value reaching P42 million on Saturday night.
According to the report submitted by the PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) composed of PDEA, Bureau of Customs NAIA, NBI, and PNP Aviation Security Group (AVSEG), Airport Police Department (APD), PNP Drug Enforcement Group, set up an operation at the Customs International Arrival, Terminal 3 of the said airport.
The arrested foreigner was identified as Phillip Theunissen, reportedly residing at No. 3 Apollo Drive, Riviera Park, Mafikeng, South Africa.
He was caught with an estimated 6,200 grams of methamphetamine hidden in his luggage, with a standard drug value reaching P42,160,000.
Reportedly, when the apprehended foreigner passed through the custom area of NAIA Terminal 3, Customs personnel noticed the suspicious package, prompting it to undergo a thorough examination by BOC-NAIA and NAIA-IADITG.
PDEA confirmed that Theunissen was carrying illegal drugs, concealed in transparent plastic weighing 6.2 kilograms.
Aside from the drugs, authorities also confiscated the suspect’s cellular phones, travel documents, and identification cards in the said anti-illegal drug operation.
The suspect faces charges for violating Section 4 of Art. II of RA 9165 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs).
