A Malagasy national was nabbed by the drug operatives upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 Sunday via Hong Kong March 12, 2023 for carrying six kilos of shabu hidden in her check-in luggage.
Customs-NAIA Anti-Illegal Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG) with agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested a Malagasy national identified as Harisoa Sandra, 42 year old after personnel from the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) noticed suspicious images in Sandra’s luggage.
Customs examiner in the presence of Sandra and other drug operatives physically examined the content of Sandra’s luggage and found 6 kilos of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride heavily wrapped with black plastic and later confirmed it were shabu by the PDEA team.
Sandra arrived at NAIA via Hong Kong on Sunday on board Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 644 and was originally from Madagascar, East Africa as her port of origin.
Sandra’s luggage was also subjected to K9 and then 100% thorough physical examination resulted in the discovery of 6.0 Kilograms of shabu with estimated street value of Php40,800,000.00.
The Sandra is currently undergoing custodial investigation of PDEA for initiation of corresponding inquest proceedings for the violation of RA 9165 and RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization Act (CMTA).
BOC-NAIA, under the guidance of Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, remains committed to protecting the country against smuggling attempts along the borders, aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
Meanwhile, Customs-NAIA will continue to be vigilant in border protection efforts, meeting revenue targets and balance with trade facilitation, said its chief Mimel Talusan. (JERRY S. TAN)
