P12M worth of liquid cocaine seized from returning OFW

MANILA, Philippines - A returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was apprehended on Wednesday after bottles of liquid cocaine worth P12 million were seized from her baggage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Mary Joy Soriano, who returned from Doha, Qatar was placed under investigation by airport authorities after two liters of liquid cocaine inside two plastic bottles were discovered from her bag, Bureau of Customs- Intelligence and Investigation Section Chief Vernie Enciso said.

Soriano arrived in the country late Tuesday night and was apprehended as soon as she claimed her baggage at NAIA Terminal 1.

“It is positive for cocaine during the field testing, 99 percent. The confirmatory test will be done at the PDEA laboratory,” Enciso said.

Enciso added that it was the first time the auhorities encountered such type of illegal drug which turns into powder once exposed to air.

Soriano denied ownership of the bottles and said her baggage had signs that it was opened prior to her claiming it.

However, during interrogation, she said she has a friend who requested to bring the bottles of lotion home in exchange for money and that she will be contacted as soon as she gets home.

Further investigation revealed that Soriano went to Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Brazil and United Arab Emirates before going to Qatar and returning to the Philippines.

Her phone is also being examined by PDEA to identify her local contacts, Enciso said.