Operatives from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has recently denied the entry of an Indonesian drug courier who arrived in the country last Wednesday.

Authorities identified the suspect as Muhammad Nur, a 49-year-old Indonesian male who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 via AirAsia flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

After Laotian authorities discovered illegal drugs hidden inside Nur’s luggage during inspection, Interpol authorities immediately alerted the BI.

Reports said that Nur had already departed Bangkok en route to Manila when the drugs were discovered.

BI officers were able to intercept the suspect upon his arrival in the country due to timely coordination with Interpol members and immediately excluded Nur and boarded him on the next available flight back to Bangkok.

According to BI commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony Viado, the successful interception was part of Operation Maharlika as he stressed the importance of international collaboration in preventing transnational crimes.

He also highlighted the successful interception as a result of close cooperation with Interpol and other international partners, ensuring that Philippine borders remain safe and free from illegal activity.

The BI chief commended the successful intelligence sharing that facilitated immediate action by authorities, citing the smooth communication between National Central Bureau Manila, NCB Bangkok and NCB Vientiane which underscored the value of cooperation and attentiveness in safeguarding borders.