P218.4 million shabu seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — Over 32 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P218.4 million and stashed in mufflers were intercepted at a warehouse at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) complex in Pasay on Wednesday night.

The Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) said it received information about a drug shipment at the People’s Air Cargo and Warehousing Co. Inc.

Acting on the information, DEG director Brig. Gen. Dionisio Bartolome Jr. said joint teams from the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Bureau of Customs (BOC) conducted an interdiction operation at around 8:42 p.m.

Christine Tigranes, 28, the alleged consignee of the shipment, was apprehended after she accepted the parcels, according to police.

The shipment was declared as machinery mufflers from Zimbabwe, the BOC said.

NAIA-BOC district collector Yasmin Mapa noted that the heightened security being implemented at the airport resulted in the discovery of the drug shipment.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio commended the BOC personnel at the NAIA.

“We continue our drive to combat drugs entering the Philippines in line with the directive of President Marcos,” Rubio said.

Tigranes, of Balingasa, Quezon City, is being held on charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

In Parañaque, at least 40 grams of shabu with a street value of P340,000 were confiscated during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., director of the National Capital Region Police Office, said the drugs were recovered from three suspects in Barangay Tambo at around 1:40 a.m.

The suspects were Nher Cruz, 28; Anthony Chua, 48, and Benedict Chua, 53.

Charges of drug trafficking are being readied against them, police said.   –  Rudy Santos, Ghio Ong