Drug interdiction authorities intercepted two Filipino housewives at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Wednesday after a routine baggage check uncovered a combined 8,324 grams of shabu concealed inside two suitcases they had carried from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The contraband was distributed across 13 foil packs fashioned with improvised pouches constructed from carbon paper and tape — a concealment method designed to evade detection. The white crystalline substance had been mixed with coffee, further masking its presence. A black suitcase held seven of the packs with approximately 4,506 grams, while a dark gray suitcase contained the remaining six packs carrying 3,818 grams.
The total haul carries an estimated street value of P56.6 million.
Customs officials and the Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group jointly conducted the arrest. Both suspects now face charges under Article II of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The seized narcotics were subsequently turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for laboratory analysis and the initiation of inquest proceedings.
