Woman caught with P29.7 million shabu at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — A woman was arrested for allegedly smuggling methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P29.7 million at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Saturday.

The suspect, a 43-year-old Filipina identified only as Lyn, yielded 4.36 kilos of shabu, which she stashed in an improvised black duct tape pouch in her luggage, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) National Capital Region field office said.

Lyn had just arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and was at the X-ray screening area when she was apprehended at around 1:35 p.m.

When authorities opened her luggage, anti-narcotics agents found the illegal drugs under bundles of clothing, towels, a blanket and a comforter.

Authorities confiscated the suspect’s passport, identification card and other travel documents.

She is facing complaints for violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

“This interdiction operation is a product of strong collaboration between PDEA and our law enforcement partners,” PDEA director general Isagani Nerez said.

Meanwhile, around 65 grams of shabu worth P442,000 were confiscated from two people in Caloocan City on Saturday.

The suspects are being held on drug trafficking charges. — Rudy Santos