South American man nabbed for P18M cocaine at Clark Airport

Clark International Airport.

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Authorities arrested a South American man after he allegedly tried to smuggle late Tuesday, May 23, into Clark International Airport (CRK) some P18,380,400 worth of cocaine.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Luzon (PDEA 3) identified the suspect as Renaldo Wilfred Oliviera, 48, a Suriname national.

The Surinamese arrived at 6:31 p.m. on Tuesday from Dubai at CRK on board Emirates Airlines .

He was arrested at 7:44 p.m. after an airport security dog sniffed something in his luggage and authorities found that illegal drugs were concealed inside.

The PDEA 3 said about 3.7 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the suspect’s jacket were discovered by authorities after they opened his luggage.

“Around 30 vacuum sealed transparent pack wrapped in mesh cloth and blue carbon paper containing cocaine were recovered from Olivieira’s possession,” it said.

The PDEA 3 said the operation that led to the discovery of the cocaine and arrest of the Surinamese man was conducted jointly with the PDEA Clark Inter Agency Drug Interdiction Unit, PDEA Region 7, PDEA International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs Service, the Bureau of Customs Port of Clark, the Bureau of Immigration, NBI Pampanga District Office and PNP Aviation Security Unit 3.

The arrested suspect faces charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. INQ

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