THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) anti-terrorist group (ATG) arrested Joy Dagonano Gulmatico, 29, on Thursday evening at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
Gulmatico arrived from Sierra Leone on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. BI-ATG head Bienvenido Castillo III reported that Gulmatico’s suspicious travel pattern triggered an inspection by the NAIA drug interdiction task group (DITG).
A search of her luggage revealed 4.574 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the lining of four handbags and a suitcase. This significant quantity of cocaine has an estimated street value exceeding ₱24 million. The high value of the seized drugs underscores the substantial financial stakes involved in this international drug trafficking operation.
Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel, along with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Group, Airport Police Department, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, and the National Bureau of Investigation, collaborated in the inspection and subsequent testing which confirmed the substance as cocaine.
Gulmatico is currently being held and will face charges for drug trafficking under Philippine law. The significant amount of cocaine seized highlights the gravity of the offense and the potential for lengthy imprisonment and substantial fines. The case emphasizes the ongoing fight against drug trafficking and the importance of international cooperation in disrupting these criminal networks.
metrosundaily
