DAVAO CITY — Personnel of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) arrested a passenger after discovering cocaine hidden inside his luggage on March 21 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Terminal 1, Pasay City.
The arrest was made through a joint operation by the BOC at the NAIA), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
In a press statement, it was through an information gathered from foreign counterpart that personnel from BOC NAIA and PDEA were informed that a certain traveler was due to arrive at the NAIA carrying illegal drugs.
The passenger, identified as Kemal Ozenir and a Turkish national, arrived from Dubai via Emirates Airlines with flight number EK 332 and was originally from Brazil as port of origin.
The passenger’s luggage was subjected to x-ray , K9 and 100% physical examination which resulted to the discovery of 3,945 grams of cocaine concealed in bath soap cases and 1,500 ml. of liquid cocaine mixed with lotions with estimated value of P28,858,500.00 as confirmed by PDEA.
The passenger was apprehended for possible violation of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Drug Act and RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The BOC, under the guidance of Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, is committed to protect the country against entry of illegal goods aligned with the mandates of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
