Abandoned luggage packed with ‘kush’ turned over

Bureau of Customs (BoC) officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) turned over eight abandoned checked bags containing an estimated P141.895 million worth of high-grade marijuana to drug enforcement authorities, the agency announced Friday.

The abandoned luggage, containing approximately 94.597 kilograms of suspected “kush,” was discovered 1 September during routine inspections at the Interline Baggage Room of NAIA Terminal 3.

A Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) K9 unit flagged the bags during a sweep, and subsequent X-ray imaging detected suspicious contents inside, prompting physical inspection.

Customs and PDEA officers executed the joint operation alongside inter-agency task forces at the airport under national directives to bolster border security and curb drug smuggling.

“We will continue strengthening our border controls and working closely with our law enforcement partners to prevent illegal drugs and other prohibited commodities from entering our communities,” BoC-NAIA district collector Maria Yasmin Obillos-Mapa said in a statement.

Meantime, Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno affirmed that the agency remains vigilant in monitoring air terminals to prevent narcotics trafficking while maintaining regular trade and travel flows.