NAIA authorities nab balikbayan for possession of prohibited drugs

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino balikbayan was arrested by alert authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in an attempt to smuggle into the country more than 800 grams of regulated/controlled drugs from Papua New Guinea the other day.

In a report recieved by Deputy Collector for Passenger Services Tess Roque of the Bureau of Customs at NAIA, the suspect was identified as Raul Loque, 51, resident of No. 449 Quezon St., Bagumbayan, Taguig City.

Loque, passenger of Air Nuigini flight PX-010 from Port Moresby, PNG and holder of Philippine Passport No. WW0393978 arrived at the premier airport on Thursday.

Confiscated from the baggage of Loque were 769.149 grams of Diazepam and 44.08 grams of Pseudoephedrine, both regulated/controlled drugs.

The evidence examined by chemist Shaila Seville of PDEA Laboratory Service yielded positive result for the presence of Diazepam a regulated/controlled drug.

A case for violation of Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs), otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” was filed against the suspect at the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office and duly acknowledge by City Prosecutor Manuel Loteyro, duty inquest fiscal.

Loque, along with the evidence confiscated from him were turned over to the PDEA for custodial detention.            – Rudy Santos