P14.9-M suspected ‘kush’ intercepted at NAIA

Authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted an estimated P14.9 million worth of suspected marijuana “kush” over the weekend, the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group reported Sunday.

Reports said that the contraband was discovered Friday in an unclaimed green luggage at the arrival area.

Investigators traced the bag to a female foreign passenger who had arrived from Bangkok and was scheduled for a connecting flight to Macau.

The luggage was flagged by a Bureau of Customs (BoC) operator during routine X-ray screening after a suspicious image was spotted inside.

A Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) K9 team confirmed the presence of an illegal substance before Customs personnel opened the bag.

The luggage contained 18 pouches with a total weight of 9.94 kilograms of the suspected kush.

Investigators said the passenger had already boarded her flight to Macau at 7:16 p.m., successfully evading arrest.

The seized illegal items were inventoried by PDEA and are scheduled to be turned over to its national office for custody and further investigation.