As part of the strengthened campaign of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) against illegal drugs, BOC – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), in collaboration with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), arrested a female Canadian passenger found with shabu concealed as Truffle Chocolate Balls inside her check-in baggage.

Records further reveal that the arrested courier of illegal drugs came from Mexico, and arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 on 29 June 2023 from Narita, Japan via Japan Airline Flight No. JAL741.

The passenger’s check-in baggage underwent rigorous screening, including x-ray scanning, K9 inspection, and physical examination, that led to the discovery of 7,150 grams of concealed Methamphetamine Hydrochloride commonly known Shabu with an estimated value of Php48,620,000.00 as confirmed by PDEA.

The arrested passenger and seized illegal drugs were turned to PDEA for custodial investigation and initiation of inquest proceedings for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended and Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Under the leadership of Acting District Collector Yasmin O. Mapa, the BOC NAIA remains committed in protecting the country’s borders in line with the Priority Programs of Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio.