A BRITISH NATIONAL was arrested during an interdiction operation at the Customs International Arrival Area, NAIA Terminal 3, in Pasay City, which led to the confiscation of more or less 15,078 grams of suspected Marijuana Kush.
The operation that took place at around 8:40 p.m. last Thursday, August 7, was carried out by the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) composed of personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Regional Office NCR, Bureau of Customs – CAIDTF, PNP Aviation Security Group, Airport Police Department, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, National Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Immigration.
The suspect, temporarily identified only as “Patrick” while processing in ongoing, was an arriving passenger from Bangkok, Thailand.
IN 35 PLASTIC POUCHES
In a routine inspection of his green luggage, it revealed 35 plastic pouches wrapped with packaging tape that contained dried leaves suspected to be Marijuana Kush, weighing 15,078 grams.
Also recovered from “Patrick’s” possession were non-drug items, including identification documents, a boarding pass, and a cellular phone.
Patrick is currently facing charges for violation of Section 4, Article II of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which prohibits the importation of dangerous drugs. This offense carries the penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine of up to ten million pesos, depending on the final weight and classification of the illegal drugs involved.
The confiscated evidence were forwarded to the PDEA Laboratory Service for examination. The suspect will undergo inquest proceedings.