PROHIBITED ITEMS. A Swiss knife and a pair of scissors were detected from a female passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Wednesday (April 3, 2024). During a manual inspection, screeners also found a pouch of dried leaves confirmed to be marijuana. (Photo courtesy of Office for Transportation Security)
MANILA – A female passenger bound for Kota Kinabalu was caught with marijuana at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Wednesday, the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) reported Thursday.
"The detection of drugs was just incidental upon the detection of a Swiss knife and a pair of scissors. The expertise of our screeners is on the detection of potential weapons that could be used to commit acts of unlawful interference," OTS spokesperson Kim Marquez told the Philippine News Agency.
According to the OTS, the passenger's luggage was subjected to manual inspection. The knife and scissors were intercepted, while a plastic pouch containing dried leaves suspected to be illegal drugs was also found.
Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officers later confirmed that the dried leaves were indeed marijuana, the OTS said.
The passenger was turned over to the PDEA on Wednesday night, Marquez said.
Meanwhile, OTS officer in charge Jose Briones Jr. assured that the agency will continue working with other government agencies to maintain security in the country’s airports. (PNA)
