Singaporean, Nepalese nabbed for shabu trade

A SINGAPOREAN national was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) for attempting to transport kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu into the Philippines, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Sunday.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez Jr. identified the arrested foreign national as Ng Boon Eng Danny, 42, who arrived in the country aboard Thai Airways flight TG624 from Bangkok, Thailand.

The PDEA Special Enforcement Service (SES) under Director Jeoffrey Tacio conducted the interdiction operation at the Naia Terminal 1 on Friday at 8:30 p.m. with the support of the Naia Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (Naia-IADITG), particularly the Bureau of Customs (BoC), Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the PNP AVSEGroup.

Authorities confiscated approximately three kilograms of shabu placed inside a rectangular plastic package wrapped in black duct tape and hidden in his trolley bag. The illegal drugs were discovered during a routine inspection conducted by the Duty Customs Examiner.

Half an hour later, a follow-up operation was immediately hatched by the operatives, which resulted in the capture of the intended receiver of the shabu package, identified as Ghale Nar Maya, a 43-year-old female Nepalese, in a hotel in Malate, Manila.

Gutierrez commended the close coordination and strong collaboration among the members of the Naia-IADITG, on the continuing success of intercepting illegal drugs at the country’s premier airport.

Danny will face charges for importation, transportation, and possession of dangerous drugs, in violation of Sections 4, 5, and 11, Article II, of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while conspiracy charges (Section 26) will be filed against Maya. (SDR/Sunnex)