A 29-year-old Filipino woman was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Thursday evening, January 9, after authorities found approximately 4.6 kilograms of cocaine hidden in her luggage.
The traveler, who arrived from Sierra Leone via an Ethiopian Air flight, was flagged for inspection by the Bureau of Immigration due to suspicious travel patterns. During a routine baggage scan, a Customs X-ray inspector detected unusual contents, prompting a thorough search.
According to a Phil Star Global report, customs officials uncovered cocaine concealed within the linings of four handbags and one suitcase. The confiscated drugs have an estimated street value of more than P24 million, according to a press release from the Bureau of Immigration.
The operation was carried out by a joint task force composed of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group, Airport Police Department, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, and the National Bureau of Investigation.
The woman is now facing charges under Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Republic Act 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
