Passenger nabbed with P35-M shabu at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Hong Kong Tuesday night was arrested after customs examiners reportedly discovered 7.5 kilos of shabu, hidden in milk boxes, in his luggage.

Bureau of Customs personnel reportedly blocked Roendo Bastatas Ariata from leaving NAIA Terminal 2 due to excess baggage, according to the BOC.

Customs examiner Kristian Cordiz found seven milk boxes in Ariata’s luggage and asked customs police chief Marlon Alameda and customs anti-drug task force head Sherwin Andrada to check the boxes’ contents.

Alameda and Andrada noticed that each box seemed too heavy for the weight of one kilo indicated on the label. The shabu, with a street value of P35 million, was discovered when the boxes were opened, the BOC said.

Alameda said Ariata, who will be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, left for Hong Kong on Jan. 5. He said a background check on Ariata showed he is a native of Davao and has traveled to Brazil and other countries in the past few years.