Stock image: Cocaine
MANILA, Philippines — Powder and liquid cocaine worth P28.85 million were seized from a Turkish national at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Wednesday.
In a report, the BOC identified the foreigner as Kemal Ozenir, who arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday via an Emirates flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to the bureau, Ozenir stashed the illegal substance in 22 boxes of soap inside his luggage. Specifically, around 3,945 grams (3.945 kilos) of white powder and two plastic bottles containing 1,500 ml (1.5 liters) of white thick liquid stuff were discovered in the Turkish national’s suitcase.
An assigned BOC examiner and an on-duty agent from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) inspected Ozenir’s luggage while the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted an initial test for the illegal substance – which came out positive for cocaine. The estimated street value of the confiscated powder and liquid cocaine was P28.85 million.
A customs officer inspects the boxes of soap where the powdered cocaine was found. Powder and liquid cocaine worth P28.85 million were seized from a Turkish national at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Bureau of Customs says on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Photo from BOC
BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said they immediately responded to the scene after receiving the report from CIIS Director Verne Enciso. He also said that information about Ozenir came from the United States Department of Homeland Security through the Naia-Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADTG).
“After the NAIA-IADTG received the information, immediately we are on the lookout for this person and his luggage. An initial test done on the luggage showed it was positive for the presence of cocaine,” Rubio said in a statement.
“The information we received and the quick action we took to stop the contraband’s entry led to the capture of the suspect in this case,” he added.
Aside from the illegal substances, authorities confiscated the following items found inside Ozenir’s luggage:
- assorted clothes and shoes
- one Turkish passport
- two boarding passes
- one Turkish national ID card
- one State of Qatar residency permit ID card
- one mobile phone
A customs officer inspects the boxes of soap where the powdered cocaine was found. Powder and liquid cocaine worth P28.85 million were seized from a Turkish national at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Bureau of Customs says on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Photo from BOC
BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy said further investigation on the suspect’s identity and affiliations is underway. He then pointed out that Ozenir’s arrest only shows how big of a problem drug smuggling has become.
“This particular seizure underscores how brazen individuals have become to try and bring illegal drugs on board flights. And while it also highlights the bigger battle we have against the dangers of illegal drugs being out there on the streets, it also shows the resolve of our Customs officers in upholding the bureau’s border security mission and deny this smuggling attempt,” he noted. — With reports from Denver Godezano, trainee
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