The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has apprehended a passenger at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for attempting to smuggle into the country six kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, with an estimated street value of P40.8 million.
The Filipina passenger, who arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 at 4 a.m. on November 8 from Siem Reap, Cambodia, was caught after an x-ray scan of her backpack yielded images of suspected dangerous drugs, BOC said in a statement.
The backpack was then subjected to 100% physical examination, leading to the discovery of white crystalline substances in two handbags which were inside the backpack, the shabu further concealed in a tea foil pack.
In a field test immediately made by the Customs Anti-illegal Drugs Task Force, the substance tested positive for shabu.
The passenger and the six kilos of shabu will be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to start inquest proceedings for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act No. 9165) in relation to sections 118 (Prohibited Importation), 1113 (Goods Liable for Seizure and Forfeiture) and 1401 (Unlawful Importation) of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Just last month, BOC seized shipments of shabu also from Siem Reap at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
