A 62-year-old American citizen was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 after authorities intercepted about 17.46 kilograms of high-grade marijuana in his luggage, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported.[1] The suspect, identified only by the alias “Henry,” had arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, and was intercepted at the airport’s customs secondary inspection area on Thursday 29 October.[2] The interception happened around 8:35 p.m.[1]
During secondary screening, customs and anti-narcotics personnel found 15 vacuum-sealed transparent plastic pouches of dried leaves suspected to be marijuana kush, hidden inside aluminum pouches and other packaging materials across two checked bags.[1] The pouches contained about 17,464 grams, PDEA said.[2] PDEA estimated the street value of the confiscated drugs at P17.46 million.[1] The contraband was inventoried at the scene in the presence of required witnesses before being transferred to the PDEA Laboratory Service for forensic examination.[1]
The interdiction task group included personnel from PDEA’s National Capital Region office, the Bureau of Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, the PNP Aviation Security Group, the Airport Police Department, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Immigration and the Office for Transportation Security.[1] The suspect remains in custody and faces formal charges for violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.[1]