A newly-arrived Salvadoran passenger carrying a backpack containing P16-million worth of cocaine was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport NAIA Terminal 3 on Monday afternoon.
The NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADTG) identified the suspect as Domingo Quintanilla Franco, 45, married, an El Salvador national and an electrician.
Initial investigation showed that Franco arrived at NAIA at 5:40 pm on May 22, 2023, on board a Qatar Airways flight QR 932 from Doha. His point of origin was Brazil.
Acting on a tip from foreign counterparts and customs intelligence, the NAIA-IADITG conducted an interdiction operation at the Customs International Arrival Area, NAIA Terminal 3, that resulted in the arrest of the suspect who was carrying a back pack containing nine transparent plastic bags containing more or less 3,120 grams of white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine with current street value of P16,536, 000.
Aside from the drug cache, the inventory of items seized from the suspect listed one piece of luggage containing assorted clothes and other personal belongings; passport, two boarding passes, a customs baggage declaration form, three pages of printed airline tickets and a mobile phone.
The suspect was turned over to the PDEA for the filling of appropriate illegal drugs charges against him.
The NAIA-IADITG is also investigating whether or not Franco is a drug mule and if he has any contact in the Philippines.
