PASAY CITY, Philippines — Anti-narcotics operatives successfully intercepted a large shipment of suspected cocaine valued at P39.1 million at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on January 30, 2026.
The operation, announced by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday, led to the arrest of a 38-year-old female passenger arriving from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Doha, Qatar.
The Detection and Seizure The arrest was the result of a coordinated inter-agency operation involving the PNP, Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
- Intelligence Lead: Authorities acted on intelligence reports indicating that the suspect might be transporting illegal substances.
- X-Ray Discovery: During a routine screening, a customs inspector flagged a suspicious item inside the passenger’s green trolley bag.
- Complex Concealment: A manual search revealed a hidden compartment containing four pouches. To evade detection, each pouch was meticulously wrapped in layers of tape, plastic, carbon paper, and foil.
- Confirmation: Field testing using a Raman spectrometer confirmed the substance was cocaine, with an estimated street value of P39,181,660.00.
Official Statement PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. lauded the vigilance of the airport security teams. “Illegal drug trafficking will always be met with firm action,” Nartatez said. “Our Aviation Security Group, together with our NAIA-IADITG partners, remains vigilant, maintaining layered security to prevent the entry of dangerous drugs into the Philippines.”
Legal Proceedings The suspect was immediately taken into custody by NAIA Police Station 3 personnel and was informed of her constitutional rights in a language she understood. Both the individual and the seized evidence are currently with the NAIA-IADITG for proper documentation and the filing of charges in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
This high-value seizure follows a successful 2025 for the PNP, during which authorities recovered a total of P25.3 billion in illegal drugs and P4.8 billion in smuggled goods across the country.