Two separate incidents of drug smuggling were foiled by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) International Airport Investigation Division (IAID), in close coordination with the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Anti-Illegal Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-AIDITG). The successful operations led to the confiscation of suspected shabu worth P56.8 million.
The first incident involved two women who arrived at the NAIA Terminal 1 from Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 6, 2026 and were heading to Novaliches, Quezon City. Upon inspecting their luggage at the Customs International Arrival area, inspectors found 8,324 grams of shabu, with an estimated value of P56,603,200, hidden inside their luggage.
Both women are facing charges of illegal importation of dangerous drugs under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Meanwhile, the second batch of illegal drugs were discovered at the AP Cargo hub on Domestic Road in Pasay City on May 19, 2026.
The outbound package was sent from Merville, Parañaque City, and was addressed to a recipient in Tagbilaran, Bohol. Inspectors found 78 grams of shabu, hidden inside three “MOMOM” plastic food containers falsely declared as “foodstuff,” valued at P117,000.
For both cases, all seized drugs were formally marked and inventoried in front of officials and media witnesses. They were then handed over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency laboratory for testing and safekeeping.