AN Indonesian woman who tried to smuggle eight kilos of shabu worth P54.4 million in her carry-on bag from her flight from Cambodia was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 early yesterday.
A report to PDEA chief Aaron Aquino identified the Indonesian as Agnes Alexandra, a resident of Jakarta, Indonesia who arrived in the country at around 1:34 a.m. from Seam Reap, Cambodia via Cebu Pacific flight 5J 258.
PDEA-National Capital Region chief Joel Plaza said combined anti-illegal drugs agents were doing their routine passenger profiling and K9 sweeping when they noticed something suspicious in Alexandra’s luggage.
Bureau of Customs examiners who thoroughly checked her luggage discovered the shabu.
Plaza said Alexandra will be charged with importation of illegal drugs.
Alexandra wept and covered her face when she was presented to media yesterday, telling officials the bag was not hers.
“The suspect says it was given for her to carry, but that is always their story,” Bureau of Customs official Lourdes Mangaoang said at a news conference.
Seven persons were arrested in anti-drug operations in Mandaluyong, Marikina and Pasig.
Brig. Gen. Johnson Almazan, Eastern police district director, identified the seven as Nenita Santos, 50; Joana Aribon, 42; Raymund Njqui, 39; Rosalie Boado, 30; Joanna Jimeno, 23; Mer de Leon, 42; and Jericho Solano, 34.
Recovered from them were 16 sachets of suspected shabu. — With Christian Oineza
