Huge stash of illegal drugs worth P304 million seized at NAIA

NEWLY appointed Port of NAIA district collector, Alexandra Lumontad, proved she is capable of guarding the country’s premier entry point against all forms of criminalities with the seizure of illegal drugs worth more than P304 million in a single day.

In a report to Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, Lumontad said more than 44 kilos of shabu valued at over P304 million were seized last July 14 at the NAIA Terminal 3, during two “targeted operations” that also resulted to the arrest of the drug couriers arriving from separate flights from Hongkong.

In the first interdiction, the passenger disclaimed ownership of the flagged luggage, which, upon a K-9 sweep and field test, was confirmed to contain 20.55 kilos of illegal drugs concealed in a hidden compartment in the luggage. The seized shabu was valued at P139.7 million.

Later that day, a second female passenger was intercepted after a K-9 sweep and physical examination of her luggage revealed a further 24.231 kilos of shabu valued at more than P164.77 million.

Both passengers, whose nationality and identity have been withheld, have been turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for further investigation and inquest proceedings.

The confiscated illegal drugs, on the other hand, were submitted to the PDEA Laboratory Service for chemical analysis.

Lumontad is among those brought in by the Palace to help Commissioner Nepomuceno implement his reform agenda for the agency.

Lumontad replaced Collector Atty. Yasmin Mapa effective from July 1 after Mapa’s appointment was not renewed by Malacañang.