South African, Thailand caught with P56.5 million drugs at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — Two women, one from South Africa and the other from Thailand, were arrested upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) yesterday and on Tuesday night for allegedly carrying P56.5 million worth of illegal drugs in their luggage.

Jolene Du Plessis was apprehended during an interdiction operation at the NAIA-3’s arrival area after she was reportedly caught smuggling 5.26 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P35.8 million at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman Derrick Carreon said in a message on Viber.

The foreigner, a passenger on an Etihad Airways flight, was held by airport authorities after suspicious items were spotted in her luggage at the x-ray screening area.

Anti-narcotics agents inspected her luggage and found the illegal drugs beneath bundles of clothes.

The Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group said Du Plessis came from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Apart from shabu, authorities also confiscated the suspect’s cell phone and passport.

The suspect is being held on charges of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Yesterday, a Thai woman identified as Sirirut Taweesup, 40, was arrested upon arriving at the NAIA-3 from Bangkok for allegedly carrying 14.8 kilos of kush, a high-grade variety of marijuana valued at P20.7 million, in her luggage.

The kush was concealed in a false side of her check-in luggage, authorities said.