Commissioner Nepomuceno: “We will crush every attempt to poison our borders.”

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) dealt another heavy blow to international drug syndicates after intercepting ₱42.5 million worth of shabu from an arriving passenger at NAIA Terminal 3 on October 28, 2025.

BOC-NAIA operatives, working in close coordination with airport authorities and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), flagged the passenger arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after x-ray screening revealed suspicious images inside his hand-carried baggage.

A subsequent inspection confirmed the traveler was carrying 6,250 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), with an estimated value of ₱42.5 million. Field testing using a Raman Spectrometer verified the substance as an illegal drug.

Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno lauded the BOC-NAIA team for their sharp vigilance and warned smugglers that the Bureau’s watch at the country’s borders is tighter than ever.

“This is the kind of alertness we expect and the kind of results we demand,” said Nepomuceno. “We will crush every attempt to poison our borders. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, our campaign against drug and goods smuggling will be relentless — no one gets a free pass.”

BOC-NAIA District Collector Atty. Yasmin Mapa, who personally oversaw the interdiction, praised her team’s quick coordination and firm execution during the operation.

“Our officers at NAIA stand as the first and last line of defense against these traffickers,” Mapa declared. “The message is clear — you try to bring drugs through our ports, you will be caught.”

The apprehended suspect and the seized drugs were turned over to PDEA for further investigation and filing of criminal charges.

Sources inside Customs said the latest seizure “shows the kind of disciplined, no-nonsense leadership driving the Bureau today.”

Under Commissioner Nepomuceno’s leadership, BOC-NAIA continues to tighten its border security operations — turning the country’s busiest airport into a hard target for smugglers and drug traffickers.

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