• The Bureau of Customs–Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) delivered a crushing blow to international drug syndicates after intercepting over ₱43.4 million worth of cocaine from an arriving passenger at NAIA Terminal 3, proving once again that the country’s main gateway is no longer an easy target for smugglers.
The massive haul — more than 8 kilograms of cocaine — was uncovered on January 22, 2026, after Customs officers flagged suspicious X-ray images from a passenger’s checked-in baggage. What smugglers hoped would slip through quietly instead triggered a full-scale inspection that ended their run.
A 100% physical examination exposed the truth: 8.194 kilograms of white crystalline cocaine, expertly concealed inside the luggage but no match for Customs vigilance.
The operation was immediately coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG). Field tests confirmed the substance as cocaine, sealing the suspect’s fate. The drugs were turned over to PDEA for laboratory confirmation and deeper investigation.
NEPOMUCENO: “OUR GATEWAYS ARE NOT OPEN DOORS FOR DRUGS”
BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno sent a blunt warning to drug syndicates trying to test Philippine borders.
“This interception highlights the critical role of alert inspection and strong inter-agency coordination. Our international gateways are not open doors for illegal drugs,” Nepomuceno said.
“The Bureau of Customs remains relentless in protecting our borders and our communities.”
Under Nepomuceno’s watch, Customs has intensified inspections, proving that smugglers — whether using parcels or passengers — are being met with zero tolerance.
MAPA: FRONTLINERS WILL NOT BLINK
BOC-NAIA District Collector Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa echoed the hardline stance, crediting frontline officers who refused to let the shipment pass.
“This operation reflects the dedication of our frontliners. We conduct thorough examinations because we will not allow our airports to be exploited by drug traffickers,” Mapa stressed.
Her message was clear: every bag, every scan, every passenger matters — and Customs officers will not blink.
CHARGES FILED, NO WAY OUT
The arrested passenger now faces serious charges under:
•Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), and
•Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act)
With penalties that include life imprisonment, the bust sends a chilling signal to syndicates eyeing NAIA as a transit point.
CUSTOMS DRAWS THE LINE
The BOC-NAIA reaffirmed its commitment to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s intensified anti-drug campaign, vowing tighter inspections and stronger inter-agency operations.
Message delivered:
Bring drugs into the country, and Customs will shut you down.
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