Photo courtesy of Bureau of Customs/Facebook.
The Bureau of Customs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) intercepted more than eight kilograms of suspected cocaine from an arriving passenger on January 22, 2026.
Authorities estimate the seized drugs are worth around ₱43,428,200.
Suspicious images appeared on the X-ray scanner of the passenger’s checked baggage, prompting further inspection.
A 100-percent physical examination of the luggage was conducted immediately by customs officers.
Officers found a white crystalline substance weighing approximately 8.194 kilograms hidden inside the baggage.
The operation was carried out in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
Field tests conducted on site confirmed the substance was cocaine.
The seized drugs were turned over to PDEA for laboratory confirmation, proper disposition, and further investigation.
The passenger faces potential charges under Republic Act No. 9165 and Republic Act No. 10863.
BOC officials said the interception underscores the importance of alert inspection and inter-agency coordination to prevent illegal drugs from entering the country.