As part of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) strengthened campaign 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), apprehended a passenger found with cocaine concealed inside his luggage.

On May 22, at Terminal 3 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City, a joint operation involving the Arrival Operations Division of BOC NAIA, PDEA operatives, and the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force resulted in the arrest of a Salvadoran national. The individual arrived from Doha, Qatar, via Qatar Airways flight QR 932, from Brazil.

Based on information provided by our foreign counterparts, examiners from the Arrival Operations Division and agents from the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force at BOC NAIA, in coordination with PDEA operatives, were alerted to the presence of a traveler expected to arrive at NAIA carrying illegal drugs.

The passenger’s luggage underwent rigorous screening, including x-ray scanning, K9 inspection, and a thorough physical examination. This thorough examination led to the discovery of 3,120 grams of cocaine concealed inside the luggage, with an estimated value of Php16,536,000.00, as confirmed by PDEA.

The apprehended passenger violated Republic Act 9165, known as the Comprehensive Drug Act, and Republic Act 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Under the leadership of Acting District Collector, Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa, the BOC NAIA remains committed in protecting the national borders, and they will continue to enhance coordination efforts with partner agencies.

The Bureau of Customs, guided by Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, is dedicated in protecting the country against the entry of illegal goods, in strict adherence to the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. #