P42.5-M meth seized at NAIA, Ugandan national arrested

Authorities seized around ₱42.5 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested a 45-year-old Ugandan national during an interdiction operation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported on Wednesday.

In a statement, PDEA said the operation was conducted around 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Customs Exclusion Room in the arrival area of Terminal 3.

Agents discovered 6,250 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, concealed inside the suspect’s luggage.

PDEA, in its report, said the arrested individual, identified only by the alias “Adnan,” is a Ugandan businessman who arrived in the Philippines from Antananarivo, Madagascar, on a connecting flight.

During the inspection of the suspect’s luggage, authorities discovered five improvised packaging tape bags containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, hidden among assorted clothes, toys, and other personal belongings.

Among the other items recovered were the suspect's Ugandan passport, boarding pass, black backpack, several bank cards, a mobile phone, US dollar bills, and a company identification card.

The seized illegal drugs were placed under PDEA custody for chemical analysis and documentation, while the suspect was detained pending the filing of charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act No. 9165).

The agency said the successful interdiction was carried out in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).

PDEA reiterated its warning to both local and foreign travelers against serving as couriers or transporting packages from unknown sources, stressing that the government remains vigilant in curbing international drug smuggling through the country’s airports.