Australian ‘drug mule’ arrested at NAIA

Authorities arrested an Australian national Thursday night at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 after finding more than P27 million worth of suspected shabu in his luggage.

The NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group apprehended the 63-year-old man, identified by the alias “Leon,” at the customs arrival area. The suspect had just arrived on a flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, with a layover in Hong Kong.

During an inspection, customs officers and drug enforcement agents discovered approximately 4,008 grams of the substance, locally known as shabu, with an estimated street value of P27,254,400.

The drugs were allegedly concealed inside a black backpack. Investigators found two improvised wooden boxes covered in colored paper inside the bag. Each box contained a transparent plastic bag wrapped in carbon paper, which held the white crystalline substance.

In addition to the suspected drugs, authorities seized a mobile phone, travel documents, bank cards, and various foreign currencies from the suspect.

The Australian national remains in custody and will face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.