MANILA, Philippines—A 45-year-old Nepalese man was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday night after he was caught in possession of nearly two kilos of “shabu” or metamphetamine hydrochloride hidden in his luggage.
Customs collector for passenger services Thess Roque said Sun Bahadur Tamang arrived at NAIA’s Terminal 2 around 6:40 p.m. on Philippine Airlines flight PR 731 from Bangkok.
Seized from the Nepalese were 1.8 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P14.9 million.
Customs examiner Marius Landicho suspected the passenger was carrying an illegal substance when he smelled naphthalene or moth balls in the luggage.
Roque said this prompted the authorities to intercept Tamang and subject his luggage to thorough inspection, which showed the illegal drugs hidden underneath a false bottom in his suitcase.
Immigration records showed that Tamang also entered the country last July 12.
Officials said that during initial interrogation, Tamang admitted knowing he was carrying “ice” but refused to answer when asked if he also carried drugs during his previous visit to the Philippines.
Tamang, along with the drugs, were turned over to the PDEA following inquest proceedings on drugs charges.
The Bureau of Customs, PDEA and airport police have formed a team to find out if Tamang had contacts at the airport or if a syndicate could have been involved in the drug smuggling.
In the past few months, NAIA authorities have apprehended several foreign nationals, including suspected members of African drug syndicates who were found carrying illegal drugs.
A Nepalese woman, Ghale Nar Maya, was apprehended about two weeks ago after the BOC apprehended a Singaporean drug courier at NAIA’s Terminal 1.
Maya was the alleged receiver of the shabu from the arrested Singaporean courier, the authorities said.