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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Canadian arrested after P167 M shabu smuggling attempt at NAIA

Canadian arrested after P167 M shabu smuggling attempt at NAIA

Published Jul 15, 2025 12:11 pm  |  Updated Jul 15, 2025 01:28 pm
(MB FILE PHOTO)
(MB FILE PHOTO)
Government anti-narcotics agents seized around P167.7 million worth of shabu on Monday, July 14, following the arrest of a female Canadian national during an interdiction operation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
In a statement, the PDEA said that the 62 year-old passenger was nabbed by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) during the intelligence-driven interdiction operation.
Authorities immediately inspected the black luggage brought in by the female suspect who was an arriving passenger from Toronto, Canada via Hong Kong.
“Hidden inside three large garbage bags were multiple foil-wrapped transparent plastic packages. Each contained self-sealing plastic bags filled with a white crystalline substance. The total gross weight of the seized items was approximately 24,231 grams,’’ the PDEA noted.
The PDEA disclosed that initial field testing confirmed the substance seized was shabu with samples secured and turned over to the PDEA Laboratory Service for confirmatory analysis.
“Non-drug evidence recovered from the suspect’s belongings included a Canadian passport, two airline boarding passes, a mobile phone, an identification card, and a baggage declaration form,’’ the PDEA added.
Upon further verification, the PDEA confirmed that the Canadian national was at the same flight of the 25-year old arriving passenger who was earlier collared for attempting to smuggle P139.7 million worth of shabu.
The PDEA is currently conducting an investigation if the two failed shabu smuggling attempts were related.
With the twin arrests, the PDEA stressed that the successful interdiction underscores the unwavering dedication of the government anti-narcotics teams “to secure the nation’s borders against transnational drug smuggling.’’
“It also reflects the government’s intensified campaign to strengthen interdiction operations at all major ports of entry,’’ the PDEA added.
The well-coordinated interdiction operation was carried out by the PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region,
Bureau of Customs-Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Group, Airport Police Department, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Immigration. 
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