6 kilos of shabu found in Pinay’s baggage

Six kilograms of shabu with an estimated street value of R40.8 million stuffed in two handbags were seized from a Filipina passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday morning.

Concealed in a tea foil pack and stuffed in two handbags that were packed in a backpack, the six kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu were detected during X-ray inspection, the Bureau of Customs said (BOC).

It was found in the possession of a Filipina passenger who arrived at the airport’s Terminal 3 at around 4 a.m. Friday from Siem Reap, Cambodia.

NAIA Customs district Collector Carmelita Talusan, identified the suspect as Marie G. Ruzol, 28, of Marikina City.

“The passenger’s backpack was subjected to X-ray scanning which yielded images of suspected dangerous drugs. The baggage was subjected to 100 percent physical examination, where Customs personnel found white crystalline substances inside two handbags which were inside the backpack further concealed in a tea foil pack,” the bureau said.

A field test was then conducted to confirm whether the substance is an illegal drug. It tested positive for shabu.

According to the bureau, the passenger and drug shipment will be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the lead agency in the anti-illegal drug operations in the country.

She will be facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165) in relation to Sections 118 (Prohibited Importation), 1113 (Goods Liable for Seizure and Forfeiture) and 1401 (Unlawful Importation) of Republic Act 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

A similar shipment of shabu from Cambodia was also seized at Terminal 1, last September 2019.