METRO

American bearing ‘kush’ intercepted

Jing Villamente · Oct 30, 2026, 11:18 PM

AUTHORITIES at NAIA Terminal 3 present the American passenger who was caught with 17.46 kilograms of seized marijuana kush worth P17.46 million after arriving from Bangkok, Thailand. — Photograph courtesy of pdea/pnp-avsec group

Authorities arrested a 62-year-old American citizen at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 after interdicting approximately 17.46 kilograms of high-grade marijuana concealed in his luggage, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported Friday.

Members of the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group intercepted the suspect, identified as alias “Henry,” at the secondary inspection area of the international arrival terminal around 8:35 p.m. Thursday.

The suspect had just arrived on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

During secondary screening, customs and anti-narcotics personnel discovered 15 vacuum-sealed transparent plastic pouches containing dried leaves suspected to be Marijuana Kush hidden inside aluminum pouches and other packaging materials across two checked bags.

PDEA estimated the street value of the confiscated drugs at P17.46 million.

The interdiction task group comprises personnel from the PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region, Bureau of Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, PNP Aviation Security Group, Airport Police Department, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, and Office for Transportation Security.

The seized contraband underwent inventory and documentation at the scene in the presence of required mandatory witnesses before being transferred to the PDEA Laboratory Service for forensic examination.

The suspect remains in custody and faces formal charges for violating Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.