State agents intercepted two passengers who were smuggling illegal drugs worth around P56 million in back-to-back operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) NAIA, along with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), arrested on Aug.13 a South African passenger arriving from Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways flight EY424 with 5.256 kilograms of shabu valued at P35,802,000.
On Aug.13, a Thai passenger arriving from Thailand via Thai Airways flight TG620 was apprehended with 14.825 kilograms of kush, which is a high-grade marijuana, with an estimated street value of P20.75 million.
Both passengers were subjected to rigorous baggage screening processes, including x-ray scanning, K9 inspection, and thorough physical examinations, which led to the discovery of the illicit substances.
The apprehended passengers and the seized illegal drugs were immediately turned over to PDEA for custodial investigation and the initiation of inquest proceedings for violations of the comprehensive dangerous drugs law.
“The BOC will remain vigilant in protecting our borders against the smuggling of illegal goods,” its commissioner, Bienvenido Y. Rubio, said
New generation single window
The BOC and the Department of Finance also convened with the ASEAN-USAID Partnership Program to discuss the development of the study on the New Generation ASEAN Single Window (ASW).
Recommendations for enhancing the ASEAN Single Window system included improving technical compatibility with global trade systems, developing mobile-friendly versions, and implementing robust data quality control.
Further suggestions on enhancing data security, expanding electronic document exchanges, and improving accessibility for MSMEs were also discussed.
The ASEAN-USAID Partnership program will provide the intermediate report on the New Generation ASW Study at the 68th TWG Meeting, which is slated to take place in Cebu City, Philippines, from Sept. 10 to 13.