A Brazilian national was nabbed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after authorities found more than P10 million worth of liquid cocaine concealed in her luggage, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Tuesday.

The suspect, identified as Elyssa Cristyna Da Costa Pinheiro, arrived in Manila last 24 October from Doha aboard a Qatar Airways flight. She was flagged with the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) following an alert from the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations to the Anti-Terrorism Group of BI.

Upon the arrival of Pinheiro, BI coordinated with the Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group of Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Customs authorities which led to her arrest.

Seized from the suspect was 1.899 kilograms of liquid cocaine with a street value of around P10.06 million.

Immigration officials said such incidents highlight the importance of early digital monitoring in detecting cross-border crimes.

The seized drugs and the suspect were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency pending investigation and filing of charges.