Filipino from HK yields P35M worth of ‘shabu’

Customs authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) arrested a Filipino who arrived from Hong Kong on Tuesday night after he was caught trying to smuggle into the country seven kilos of what was believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, or “shabu,” worth P35 million.

Chief Supt. Joey Yuchongco of the Bureau of Customs-Naia identified the passenger as Roendo Ariata who arrived on a Philippine Airlines flight (PR-307) at Naia Terminal 2.

The suspected drugs were later found in Ariata’s luggage. The shabu had been hidden inside plastic packets that were placed in seven powdered milk boxes lined with carbon paper. A customs inspector, Kristian Dordis, said he spoke to Ariata after he noticed that the latter seemed to be having difficulty bringing his bag to the customs counter.

“I asked him where he came from and what he did in Hong Kong but he couldn’t reply intelligibly. That’s when I became suspicious,” Dordis told reporters.

The customs inspector then asked a policeman, Antonio Punzalan, to bring Ariata’s bag to the customs office and search it.

The seized drugs were brought to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for testing. Ariata, on the other hand, faces charges of drug trafficking in the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.