AUTHORITIES from the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), with member agencies including the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, Airport Police Department, Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group, National Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Immigration, intercepted more or less 15,000 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu.
The interdiction operation was conducted at about 12:47 on Friday morning (March 20) at the Secondary Inspection Area, Customs International Arrival Area, NAIA Terminal 1, Pasay City.
The operation resulted in the arrest of a Malaysian national identified by the alias “Fati,” 27 years old, an arriving passenger from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The suspect was apprehended after authorities discovered the illegal drugs concealed inside wooden chopping boards contained in two boxes during inspection procedures at the airport facility.
Recovered from the shipment were multiple self-sealing transparent plastic bags containing approximately 15 kilograms of suspected shabu hidden inside thirty wooden chopping boards. Based on the standard drug price set by authorities, the seized illegal drugs have an estimated value of P102,000,000.
Also confiscated during the operation were the suspect’s passport, identification card, boarding pass, cellular phone, and other personal effects.
The successful interdiction operation was carried out by operatives of the NAIA-IADITG, with support from its member agencies stationed at the airport.
The arrested suspect will face charges for violation of Section 4, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The seized drug evidence will be submitted to the PDEA Laboratory Service for forensic examination, while the suspect will be subjected to inquest proceedings. (UnliNews Online)
Source: PDEA PIO
