P56 million worth of illegal drugs seized from 2 foreigners at Naia

Bureau of Customs (BOC) seizes illegal drugs worth P56 million from two foreign passengers in back-to-back operations on  August 13 to 14, 2024, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). (Photo by BOC)

MANILA, Philippines — Illegal drugs worth P56.5 million were seized from two foreign passengers in back-to-back operations on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 in Pasay City, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

In a statement on Tuesday, the BOC, with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Naia Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, intercepted kush, or high-grade marijuana, and methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, from the two foreign passengers in separate operations.

A South African passenger arriving from Abu Dhabi on Tuesday attempted to smuggle 5.256 kilograms of shabu worth P35,802,000.

Meanwhile, a Thai passenger arriving from Thailand on Wednesday was intercepted with 14.825 kilograms of kush worth P20,755,000.

READ: Kush, marijuana oil worth P287k seized in Cavite buy-bust

“Both passengers were subjected to rigorous baggage screening processes, including x-ray scanning, K9 inspection, and thorough physical examinations, which led to the discovery of the illicit substances,” the statement said.

“The apprehended passengers and the seized illegal drugs were immediately turned over to PDEA for custodial investigation and the initiation of inquest proceedings for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended, and Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA),” the statement added.