ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities at the Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) intercepted and seized about 500 grams of suspected shabu worth P3.4 million placed on a medium-sized box.
Reports said that the ZIA X-ray operator at the Philippine Airline (PAL) cargo section discovered the prohibited substance when a medium-sized box passed through the airport X-ray machine at about 5 p.m. on Monday.
In the box, a certain Farhana Maddih of Maluso town in Basilan province appeared to be the shipper of the box via JRS cargo courier and was addressed to a certain Dayana Ismael of Philcoa, Quezon City as the cargo consignee.
The ZIA personnel called the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel assigned at the airport to conduct profiling of the package and during the profiling, PDEA agents utilized K-9s in their inspection.
When they opened the box, agents discovered and recovered a self-sealing transparent plastic sachet containing 500 grams of suspected shabu.
According to airport authorities, the box where the shabu was found also contained a plastic container containing toasted coconut and the receipt from JRS.