How high do you have to be to think you can smuggle ₱22 million worth of marijuana through an international airport without getting caught?
More than 15,000 grams of kush, with a street value of ₱22 million, was intercepted at the Arrivals Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Friday afternoon, August 15.
Authorities from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – NAIA detachment apprehended the suspect after a routine baggage inspection through X-Ray screening yielded suspicious images of an organic substance.
The suspect and his luggage were then subjected to physical examination, which led to the discovery of 16 packs dried leaves confirmed to be marijuana.
“This successful interception is a clear message to those who attempt to exploit our borders for illegal activities, we will detect and we will intercept,” Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said.
The illegal substance was turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) for proper documentation, inventory, and further investigation.
The operation was a joint effort of BOC-NAIA, PDEA, and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.
BOC stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation in the bid to protect the community from the effects of illegal drugs, intercepting such before it enters the country.
