P140M worth of shabu seized at NAIA, suspect arrested

A JOINT operation at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City resulted in the seizure of approximately 20.5 kilograms of suspected shabu, valued at ₱139,767,200.

The operation, conducted on Monday, July 14, at around 12:06 PM, was carried out by a composite team under the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) following intelligence reports.

The operation, led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office–NCR, involved collaboration with the Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, Airport Police Department, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, National Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Immigration.

Authorities inspected a blue suitcase belonging to a passenger arriving on a flight from Toronto, Canada, with a layover in Hong Kong. Inside, they discovered five foil- and duct tape-wrapped plastic bags containing a crystalline substance concealed among personal belongings.

Initial field testing confirmed the substance as shabu, weighing a total of 20,554 grams. The seized items, along with a Philippine passport, two airline boarding passes, a mobile phone, and a national ID card, were turned over to the PDEA Laboratory Service for further examination.

The arrested suspect, a 25-year-old male identified only as “Chris,” will face charges under Section 4, Article II of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.