2 foreigners held at NAIA for smuggling drugs, cash

MANILA, Philippines — Two foreigners were arrested upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for allegedly smuggling illegal drugs and cash into the country.

On Tuesday night, anti-narcotics agents confiscated 3.94 kilos of cocaine and 1,500 milliliters of liquid cocaine valued at P28.85 million from Turkish passenger Kemal Ozenir, 47, who arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 on an Emirates flight from Dubai.

Records show Ozenir originally came from Brazil and made a stopover in Dubai.

In an attempt to avoid detection, Ozenir placed the illegal drugs in 22 boxes of soap and two plastic shampoo bottles. However, the drugs were spotted by Bureau of Customs (BOC) examiners during X-ray screening.

Operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency assigned at the airport confirmed the contraband was cocaine.

Ozenir is being held on charges of violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, also known as RA 10863.

Meanwhile, an unnamed Korean man was arrested upon arriving at NAIA Terminal 1 from Incheon on March 17 for allegedly smuggling $167,300 (around P9.2 million) into the country.

The money was concealed in a hollowed-out book.

The BOC said a warrant of seizure and detention will be issued against the Korean for violating Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas regulations on the cross-border transfer of currencies and RA 10863.

The BOC reminded the public that anyone can freely bring foreign currencies into or out of the Philippines for as long as it will not exceed $10,000 or its equivalent, or the cash must be declared upon arrival or departure if it exceeds the allowed amount.