P19.6 million cocaine seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — Cocaine with an estimated street value of P19.6 million was seized from a traveler who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) from Qatar yesterday.

Agents of the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group arrested Stephen Joseph Szuhar, an American who flew in from Doha on board Qatar Airways flight QR 932.

The suspect and the drugs reportedly originally came from Brazil.

Customs officials at the NAIA said they received information from foreign sources that a traveller from Doha was carrying illegal drugs in his luggage.

The luggage was subjected to K9, X-ray and physical examination, which resulted in the discovery of 3.7 kilos of cocaine, authorities said.

Szuhar will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Drug Act, and RA 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.