ANOTHER attempt to smuggle illegal drugs into the country was thwarted by alert officers of the Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA). This time around, the illegal drugs were cocaine valued at ₱43,444,100 and the passenger was a female.
BOC-NAIA District Collector Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa assured that “our officers at NAIA remain dedicated to conducting thorough inspections to ensure that our airport is not exploited by drug traffickers.”
She also assured that the BOC-NAIA continues to strengthen its inspection measures and inter-agency coordination in support of the national government’s anti-drug campaign and its mandate to safeguard public safety.
A report from Mapa’s office said that the BOC-NAIA officers intercepted 8.197 kilograms of suspected cocaine from an arriving female passenger at NAIA Terminal 3 on January 29, 2026.
During x-ray screening of her checked-in baggage, suspicious images were noticed, indicating possible concealment and prompting Customs officers to refer the luggage for a 100 percent physical examination and it was then that white powdery substance concealed inside the baggage was discovered and later confirmed to be cocaine.
Mapa said the passenger was subjected to inquest proceedings for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended) and Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).
The said operation follows previous BOC-NAIA interdictions involving the same method of concealment, where cocaine was hidden inside baggage compartments and linings to evade detection.
BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno emphasized that “this successful interception and arrest highlight the vigilance of our Customs personnel and the strength of our border control measures.”
“The Bureau of Customs remains committed to stopping illegal drugs at our ports of entry, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign,” Nepomuceno added.
