Authorities intercepted two Filipino women at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after more than P56 million worth of suspected shabu was discovered inside their luggage during an early morning anti-drug operation.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and airport security personnel at NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City.
According to investigators, the passengers had just arrived from Phnom Penh, Cambodia aboard an international commercial flight that landed at approximately 4:41 am. The suspicious baggage was first flagged by BOC X-ray operators at the airport’s arrival inspection area.
Customs examiners later inspected the luggage in the presence of the passengers and law enforcement officers. Inside the bags, authorities found several foil-wrapped packs containing white crystalline substances hidden in makeshift pouches lined with carbon paper.
Drug-sniffing dogs later confirmed the presence of illegal narcotics, prompting airport police, members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, and PDEA agents to immediately conduct further verification. Field testing conducted on-site reportedly showed positive results for Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu.
The two women were subsequently arrested while the confiscated items were documented and turned over to PDEA for proper processing and filing of charges.
Authorities said the seized drugs weighed around 8,324 grams with an estimated street value of P56.6 million.
One black suitcase reportedly contained about 4,506 grams of suspected shabu concealed alongside coffee powder and other personal items. Another dark gray luggage carried around 3,818 grams of the substance mixed with brown powder and various belongings. Investigators also recovered passports, identification cards, boarding passes, mobile phones, and other personal effects as part of the evidence.
The PNP said the successful interception reflects tighter security and stronger coordination among agencies tasked with protecting the country’s borders from international drug trafficking operations.
Police officials added that the operation is part of the PNP’s intensified campaign to strengthen airport interdiction and improve anti-smuggling and anti-drug enforcement measures.
PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stressed the importance of vigilance in monitoring the country’s ports of entry.
“Every successful interception of illegal drugs at our ports of entry protects countless Filipino families from harm. We will continue to strengthen our border protection efforts against drug trafficking networks,” he said.
He also warned that authorities will remain relentless in stopping attempts to smuggle illegal drugs into the country.
The PNP reaffirmed its commitment to securing the nation’s borders and supporting the administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..