A Ugandan businessman has been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Tuesday after authorities discovered several kilos of suspected Methamphetamine concealed in his luggage.
The suspect, identified only as “Adnan,” 45, had arrived in Manila from Antananarivo, Madagascar, when he was intercepted around 8 p.m. at the Customs Exclusion Room during an operation by the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
According to a report by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the suspect’s gray suitcase contained five bags wrapped in packaging tape, filled with white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine hydrochloride. The seized drugs weighed about 6.25 kilograms and were valued at approximately P42.5 million (approximately Ksh 93.5 Million).
Authorities said the illegal substances were hidden among assorted clothes, toys, and personal items. Confiscated from the suspect were his passport, boarding pass, bank cards, mobile phone, and an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency. All items have been turned over to investigators.
The PDEA said the seized drugs will undergo laboratory testing to confirm their composition. Adnan will face inquest proceedings for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In a statement, the agency praised the operation as a result of strong coordination among airport and drug enforcement agencies. It added that the arrest demonstrates the government’s continued efforts to curb international drug smuggling and protect Philippine borders from transnational narcotics trafficking.
