P21.6 million shabu found in closed NAIA spa

MANILA, Philippines — Construction workers found 3.18 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P21.624 million as they were demolishing a spa at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA-1) yesterday.

The workers found three packs of shabu in an old locker of the Club Manila Massage, which was closed during the COVID pandemic. The spa had been located on the fourth level of the NAIA-1’s departure area.

The workers notified the Manila International Airport Authority’s operations personnel and airport security officers on duty at around 2:30 a.m.

The shabu had been packed in plastic containers and covered like “kakanin” or native rice cakes. The shabu had been sprinkled with chili powder to mislead drug-sniffing dogs, officials said.

The shabu may have been brought in by a transiting passenger and checked in at the spa, where another passenger was waiting to claim it, airport authorities said.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is coordinating with the construction workers’ foreman to determine how the shabu was brought into the spa and how the workers found the packs.

In Taguig, police confiscated 250 grams of shabu with a street value of P1.7 million from three suspected dealers during a sting in Barangay North Signal on Thursday night.

Police Drug Enforcement Group director Col. Dionisio Bartolome Jr. identified the suspects as Mark Christian Saldo, 25; Wood Castro, 48, and Charlie Corpuz, 38.

A manhunt is underway for another suspect, whom Bartolome identified as Leo Mar.

The suspects are being held on charges of drug trafficking. — Emmanuel Tupas