Russian Kirdyushkin Yuri (center) and Hong Kong nationals Chan Kawai and Pau Homanevan, were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, on Oct. 5, 2016, after P135 million worth of cocaine and shabu were found inside their luggge. (PHOTO BY JEANETTE ANDRADE, INQUIRER)
MANILA — Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted at the country’s premier airport on Wednesday afternoon three foreigners allegedly trying to smuggle into the country some P135-million worth of suspected narcotics in their baggage.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport district customs collector Ed Macabeo identified the suspected drug traffickers as Hong Kong nationals Chan Kawai and Pau Homanevan, and Russian national Kirdyushkin Yuri.
Macabeo said the three who originally came from Brazil tried to slip through with a total of nearly 19 kilograms of suspected cocaine and methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu allegedly hidden in their luggage.
Before the suspects were intercepted, the anti-illegal drugs task force at the NAIA was tipped off about the possible arrival of a sizeable amount of narcotics through foreign drug couriers.
The foreigners, who arrived at around 4:30 p.m. at the NAIA terminal 3 on a flight from Dubai, had just claimed their baggage from the carousel when they were asked over to the Customs office for inspection of their bags.
Upon inspection, Macabeo said, the foreigners’ baggage yielded 9.9 kilograms of suspected cocaine in powder and liquid form, as well as nine kilograms of suspected shabu.
PDEA operatives are conducting tests on the confiscated items and have taken custody of the three foreigners. SFM
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