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El Salvador national yields P16.5-M cocaine at NAIA

By Ferdinand Patinio

May 23, 2023, 11:43 am

<p><em>(Photo courtesy of BOC-NAIA)</em></p>

(Photo courtesy of BOC-NAIA)

MANILA – Airport authorities led by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) apprehended on Monday a foreign national carrying cocaine worth more than PHP16 million concealed in his luggage, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

In a statement Tuesday, the BOC-NAIA said they arrested a Salvadoran national after operatives found 3,120 grams of cocaine inside his luggage, with an estimated street value of PHP16.53 million, as confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The foreigner arrived from Doha, Qatar via Qatar Airways flight QR 932 from Brazil.

The contents were unraveled after the passenger's luggage underwent rigorous screening, including X-ray scanning, K9 inspection, and a thorough physical examination.

The BOC NAIA said the operation was in response to information provided by its foreign counterparts who alerted them that a traveler was expected to arrive at NAIA Terminal 3 carrying illegal drugs.

The apprehended foreigner, who violated Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act) and Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), is now under PDEA custody. (PNA)

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