Police arrange bricks of high-grade cocaine prior to being presented to the media in Davao city on March 24, 2014. Drug Enforcement authorities said the illegal drug, which was discovered concealed in a containerized cargo Saturday, was valued at 300 million pesos ($6.6 million). On Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, airport authorities arrested a Malaysian who reportedly hid 4.6 kilos of cocaine in his baggage. AP FILE
Authorities arrested a 22-year-old Malaysian on Monday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for hiding 4.6 kilos of high grade cocaine in his luggage.
Nasiruddin Bin Mohd Hasnan will be facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The NAIA Drug Interdiction Task Group arrested Nasiruddin at about 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Naia Terminal 1.
READ: 3 foreigners caught with P135M cocaine at NAIA
Bureau of Immigration commissioner Jaime Morente said 216 pieces of high grade cocaine in pellet form weighing 4.617.5 kilos were found hidden among chocolate bars inside a canister in his carry-on luggage.
Before the suspect’s arrival at the Naia at 4:30 pm, the drug interdiction task group received a tip from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency about the arrival of a drug courier from the West African country of Togo.
Immigration records showed that the suspect arrived via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET628 from Togo, where he stayed for a day. Prior to this, he flew from Kuala Lumpur to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
Upon the suspect’s arrival, authorities monitored his movements as soon as he presented himself at the immigration counter.
Morente said the drug interdiction task group decided to move in and arrest the Malaysian as it became apparent that no one will be picking him up.
“He did not have a checked-in luggage and the task group decided to allow a controlled delivery to determine who will pick up the subject at the airport. At around 7:30 pm, the task group decided to move in and arrest him when it became apparent that no one will pick him up as he hailed a taxi,” the BI commissioner said. CBB