A prompt response by airport authorities at Mactan-Cebu International Airport resulted in the successful interception of suspected dangerous drugs and the arrest of a 32-year-old male South African aboard a flight from HongKong.
In a report to Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, it was said that an x-ray operator discovered two packs of suspected dangerous drugs concealed in a wooden box inside the passenger’s luggage during routine screening at the x-ray machine. Upon initial discovery, BOC personnel alerted the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Police Station (MCIAPS) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which responded immediately to the scene.
The arrest was carried out following comprehensive security protocols, wherein the suspect was informed of his constitutional rights, and the procedure was recorded using an alternative recording device.
The confiscated dangerous drugs, weighing an estimated four kilograms of “Shabu,” and valued at approximately P27,200,000, were inventoried in the presence of mandatory witnesses, namely a media representative and a Barangay official. The seized items and the suspect are now in the custody of PDEA for proper documentation and disposition.
PBGen Jay Cumigad, Director of the PNP AVSEGROUP, commended the swift action of airport authorities.
“PNP AVSEGROUP continues to exert effort in thwarting drug smuggling at any air gateway in the country, reinforcing vigilance and collaboration to keep our borders secure,” he said.
