27 kilos of cocaine seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines – Two Chinese and a Russian man were arrested for allegedly smuggling into the country more than 27 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of P140 million at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) yesterday afternoon.

Chan Kawai and Pau Homanevan, both from Hong Kong, and Russian Kirdyushkin Yuri were apprehended by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Bureau of Customs (BOC).

Customs police chief Reggie Tuason said the illegal drugs were stashed in the suspects’ luggage.

The foreigners arrived at the airport on an Emirates Air flight from Rio, Brazil via Dubai at around 4:30 p.m., according to BOC district collector Ed Macabeo.

Macabeo said after the suspects took their luggage from the conveyor, they were asked to proceed to the Customs office at the airport for inspection.

Marlon Alameda, head of the BOC anti-illegal drug task force, said 18 kilos of cocaine were seized from the two Chinese while the Russian yielded 9.9 kilos of cocaine.

Customs Deputy Commissioner Arnel Alcaraz said the suspects were turned over to the PDEA.