Authorities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 intercepted over ₱227 million worth of suspected marijuana kush on Sunday, uncovering what appears to be a carefully coordinated drug smuggling attempt involving two passengers and two baggage handlers.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed that the suspects, a couple who had just arrived from Thailand, brought in six large pieces of luggage that mysteriously skipped the usual X-ray inspection. This raised red flags among customs examiners, prompting a review of CCTV footage.
“Napansin kasi ng ating customs examiner noon, bakit hindi ata duman sa x-ray machine ‘yung anim na maleta ng dalawa,” said PDEA spokesperson Atty. Joseph Frederick Calulut. He emphasized that every incoming bag should be X-rayed and properly marked — something that was notably missing in this case.
Footage revealed that two airport loaders bypassed security protocols and hand-carried the bags straight to the conveyor belt. When authorities re-scanned the luggage, the images appeared suspicious, triggering the use of drug-sniffing dogs. The K-9 units alerted officers, leading to a full inspection.
Inside the bags were over 100 kilograms of marijuana kush, a high-grade variety of cannabis, with an estimated street value of ₱227 million.
The female passenger was later identified as a supervisor for a ride-hailing app, while her male companion works as a driver. The two airport personnel were also arrested but clarified they were contractual workers, not direct employees of NAIA.
One of the loaders claimed they were acting on instructions from a so-called “station agent,” who allegedly marked the couple’s luggage for special handling. “Binigyan po ng kulay ‘yung bagahe… tapos may advise na ng custom na ‘yan,” he told investigators.
PDEA said it is looking into the possibility that the suspects are part of a larger drug syndicate, noting that such operations typically involve more than just frontliners. The agency is now coordinating with international counterparts to trace how the illegal drugs managed to evade security screenings abroad.
All four suspects are expected to face charges under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for the importation of illegal drugs.
