MANILA, Philippines — Shabu valued at P72.8 million was recovered by anti-narcotics operatives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay yesterday.
The contraband weighing 10.7 kilos was stashed in a luggage, which was abandoned at the airport’s customs exclusion room, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)’s National Capital Region field office said in a report.
Based on its tag, the luggage originated from Johannesburg, South Africa with a connecting flight to Manila.
Emerson Rosales, who heads the PDEA-NCR unit, said they are preparing criminal charges against the luggage’s sender and recipient for violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Rosales did not identify the suspects so as not to preempt the investigation.
Police reminded the public that importation of banned narcotics is illegal and carries a penalty of life in prison and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.
Meanwhile, police confiscated 81 grams of shabu worth P550,800 from a 38-year-old man in Quezon City on Sunday.
Quezon City Police District director Col. Melecio Buslig Jr. identified the alleged shabu dealer as Cristito Beni, who was apprehended in Barangay Bagong Silangan.
Beni allegedly met with police officers who purchased shabu from the suspect for P1,000.
The suspect also yielded a .380-caliber handgun and a cell phone.
Cases of drug trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm were filed against the suspect. — Rudy Santos