A 32-year-old South African man was arrested at Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) after authorities found four kilos of shabu cleverly concealed inside fake books in his luggage on Thursday, September 18.
According to the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the suspect had arrived from Hong Kong shortly after 1 p.m. when his bag was flagged by an X-ray machine. A closer inspection revealed the crystal meth hidden in the hollowed-out books instead of actual pages.
The BOC Anti-Drug Interdiction Group, together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7), immediately conducted field tests. PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar confirmed that the substance was indeed methamphetamine, with a street value pegged at ₱27.2 million.
Albiar said the man was swiftly placed under arrest following the confirmation.
While in custody at the airport, the suspect claimed that a friend had merely asked him to carry the “books” and deliver them to another contact in Cebu, insisting he was unaware that the items contained illegal drugs.
The case is now under investigation as authorities look into possible drug trafficking operations linked to the incident.
