Ugandan caught smuggling ‘shabu’ at NAIA arrested

MANILA, Philippines—A 53-year-old female Ugandan national was arrested after several kilos of suspected illegal drug “shabu” were found in her possession upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Saturday night.

Airport authorities said Josephine Balikuddembe, suspected to be a member of the African drug syndicate, arrived around 10:30 p.m. on board an Emirates flight from Dubai.

Seized from Balikuddembe were some 4.5 kilos of suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu.

Prior to the suspect’s arrest, authorities said they had received a tip from a foreign counterpart agency about the attempt to smuggle the drugs.

Airport authorities said the suspect was acting suspiciously as she was claiming her luggage from the conveyor. A drug-sniffing dog deployed at the airport likewise detected the drugs inside the Ugandan’s luggage.

This prompted agents of the Customs Task Force on Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals (TFDDCC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to intercept her.

Customs collector for passenger services Tess Roque said it took them a while to dismantle the suitcase of the suspect.

The suspected drugs were packed in a brown plastic envelope, which was placed in between a double layer hard plastic.

Officials estimated the value of the shipment at around P20 million.

The drugs could not be detected in ordinary inspection, Roque said. “If it were not for the advance information we got, it would be hard to suspect that her suitcase contained drugs. Napakahirap tanggalin ang pagkakadikit at napakaraming tornilyo (It was difficult to remove the seal of the bag and its many screws),” Roque said.

Balikuddembe, during interrogation, denied that she knew the content of her suitcase.

She said it was only lent to her by a man. “He delivered the suitcase to me empty, I did not suspect something was hidden inside. I don’t know anything about thaose drugs, he just brought to me his suitcase that I can use in going to the Philippines,” she told officials.

Balikuddembe claimed she was told by the man that upon her arrival in the Philippine airport, she must take a taxi and proceed immediately to a hotel located in Ayala Alabang, where someone would pick her up and take her around.

Apart from the suspected drugs, also seized from the suspect were $300 cash and her passport. She is being held at the PDEA-National Capital Region detention facility.

About two weeks ago, a Kenyan woman also tried to sneak into the country some 10 kilos of shabu.