They said stones.
What arrived was poison.

In a brazen attempt to sneak death into the country, a shipment declared as malachite stones from Congo was unmasked at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as something far more sinister—₱114.5 million worth of illegal drugs, enough to wreck countless Filipino lives.

And this time, the traffickers hit a wall.

On January 8, 2026, the Bureau of Customs–NAIA, working hand in glove with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), intercepted the shipment after X-ray images screamed foul play. What followed was a full, no-nonsense physical examination—and the truth came spilling out.

Four boxes.
Sixteen point eight kilos.
Pure criminal intent.

Hidden inside were suspected illegal drugs weighing a total of 16,848 grams, neatly packed, carefully concealed, and cynically mislabeled. A classic drug syndicate trick—but not good enough.

MAPA: THE IRON LADY AT NAIA

At the center of this interdiction is BOC-NAIA District Collector Atty. Yasmin “Yas” Mapa, whose leadership has turned NAIA into a nightmare for smugglers.

Under Mapa’s watch, risk profiling is not just a policy—it’s a weapon. Every suspicious shipment is treated like a loaded gun pointed at the public, and her people are trained to pull the trigger first.

“This seizure proves one thing,” a source at NAIA said. “If you try to outsmart Customs under Collector Mapa, you’d better think twice—or not at all.”

Mapa’s firm grip and uncompromising standards continue to prove that vigilance saves lives.

“YEYE” MANAOIS: THE ENFORCER WHO DOESN’T BLINK

Equally pivotal in the takedown is Special Deputy Collector Dr. Siegfried “Yeye” Manaois, a name that has become synonymous with relentless enforcement at the airport.

Known for his sharp eye and zero-tolerance mindset, Manaois ensures that no suspicious cargo slips through cracks—because under his watch, there are no cracks.

In operations like this, Manaois doesn’t just supervise—he hunts. And smugglers know it.

A LOUD MESSAGE TO DRUG SYNDICATES

This interdiction sends a clear and thunderous warning: NAIA is not your gateway—it’s your graveyard.

The seized drugs and the individuals involved have been turned over to PDEA for further investigation, with charges now looming under Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) and Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).

Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said it best: this is not just enforcement—it is protection. Protection of families, communities, and the future of the nation.

Backed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to tighten border security, this latest bust proves that when Customs is alert, coordinated, and fearless, drug syndicates lose—and the Filipino people win.

One shipment stopped.
Millions of lives spared.
And a message sent loud and clear: Smugglers are not welcome here.

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