A 58-year-old South African national was arrested after customs inspectors found packs of suspected shabu worth an estimated P120 million inside his luggage when he arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Wednesday.
The arrested foreigner was a passenger of Qatar Airways Flight QR924 coming from Doha, Qatar, Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group Chief PCol. Arthur A. Salida said.
Examination of the 17.69-kilogram contraband by a chemist from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration-7 confirmed the drugs to be methampethamine hydrochloride, he added.
The suspect is in the custody of PDEA-7 to face charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Meanwhile, PNP-AVSEGROUP Director PBGen Anthony Aberin commended the personnel of MCIA and PDEA for the successful arrest of the suspect.
“Several arrests of individuals in possession of illegal drugs in our airports are attributed to the active partnership of the PNP and PDEA in collaboration with airport authorities,” Aberin said.