AUTHORITIES at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted nearly P30 million worth of shabu from a Filipino woman arriving from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that a thorough examination of the suspect’s luggage revealed 4.368 kilograms of shabu concealed within an improvised pouch made of black duct tape.
The street value of the confiscated drugs is estimated at P29,702,400. The seized shabu has been sent to the PDEA Laboratory Service for confirmatory testing, and the 43-year-old suspect, known only as “Lyn,” is facing charges for violating Section 4 of Republic Act 9165, which pertains to the importation of dangerous drugs.
The arrest of “Lyn” underscores the ongoing efforts of Philippine authorities to combat the illegal drug trade. \
The significant quantity of shabu seized highlights the scale of the operation and the potential harm it could have caused had it reached its intended destination.
The swift action taken by authorities at NAIA demonstrates their vigilance in preventing the entry of illegal drugs into the country. Inquest proceedings have been initiated against the suspect, and further investigations are underway to identify potential accomplices and dismantle the drug trafficking network involved.
In a separate incident, authorities in Ilocos Norte also made a significant drug seizure, albeit under different circumstances.
Concerned citizens and fishermen turned over approximately P20.4 million worth of shabu that had washed ashore in Laoag City and Paoay town. The discovery of these drug packages highlights the potential for illegal drug trafficking to utilize various methods to smuggle narcotics, even through unexpected channels.
The shabu was surrendered to a combined team from the PDEA Ilocos Norte Provincial Office, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on June 12th and 13th. The authorities are investigating the origin of the floating shabu and the possible involvement of any criminal organizations.
