MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized 6.18 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, with a street value of P35 million, found in two pieces of luggage abandoned by a passenger from Hanoi who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 before dawn yesterday. Nazarene Obillo – the passenger who reportedly left the brown trolley bag, marked with an “X” by BOC X-ray Inspection Project personnel, and a handcarried backpack at the arrival area – was arrested in Tarlac yesterday afternoon by BOC personnel and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives. The trolley bag, which had been checked in, was marked for a thorough inspection, officials said. BOC-NAIA district collector Mimel Talusan said the trolley bag belonged to Obillo, 26, based on a claim stub issued by Philippine Airlines flight PR 596, which arrived at past 6 a.m.A package, wrapped in packaging tape, containing around 5.16 kilos of shabu was found in the trolley bag and another package containing 1.02 kilos of shabu was found in the backpack. BOC agents are collating the passenger’s passport and flight details prior to filing charges of violating Republic Act 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, Talusan said.

Source: Philippine Star September 28, 2019 15:33 UTC