Another shipment of smuggled drugs, this time worth P20 million, was intercepted on Saturday by airport authorities who applied a controlled delivery scheme to arrest its consignees.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport Customs collector Carmelita Talusan identified the suspects as Antonio Lobiano Baguinbin, 38, a resident of Sta. Ana, Manila; and Gundelina David, 64, of 182 Pedro Gil Street, Malate, also in Manila.
Elements of the Naia Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group applied the controlled delivery scheme to arrest the suspects in simultaneous operations in Manila and Makati City Friday night.
The scheme is used when a consignment of illicit drugs is detected and allowed to go forward under the control and surveillance of law enforcement officers, to secure evidence against the organizers of illicit drug traffic.
This operation has been proven effective in some countries in identifying and bringing to justice principals, organizers and financiers of the drug trade, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said.
Investigation showed that the shabu shipments, declared in the documents as a car seat booster and baby crib, arrived at the Federal Express warehouse last Monday.
Seized from Baguinbin were two pouches, declared as car seat booster, each containing 821.4 grams and 1,251.4 grams of shabu consigned by Schiit Audio of 24900, Anza Drive, Valencia, California, United States to one Arnel Montilla of Montojo Street, Makati City.
Another two kilos of shabu, concealed in a parcel and described as a baby crib by its sender Robert Knight of California to consignee Phoy M. dela Cruz of Pedro Gil, Ermita, Manila, was intercepted from David’s possession.
Both Baguinbin and David presented identification cards bearing the names of the consignees.
The suspects are now in the custody of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and will be charged for violation of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Earlier, Customs agents on Friday seized smuggled P10 million worth of shabu and kush weeds that arrived from California.
Lapeña said the stimulant was usually produced by syndicates in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. But he added some syndicates based in the United States are now manufacturing methamphetamine because it is a “lucrative business.”
In 2016, airport authorities made at least 15 arrests against suspected foreign drug couriers.
Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal said the Philippine government is in close coordination with US law enforcement units and international police in cracking down suspected drug mules or couriers and drug dealers.
“We are sending strong message to drug syndicates that the law enforcement agencies are joining hands to fight their way to a drug -ree country in order to provide a safe environment that is conducive for development,” said Monreal.
In November, a tip from the US government resulted in the arrest of a suspected Colombian drug mule who tried to smuggle P8.8 million worth of cocaine at the Naia Terminal 3.
The suspect, Alberto Pedroza Quijano, 67, who swallowed 79 rubber pellets of cocaine, was arrested after the US government tipped off the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency about his arrival in Manila from Dubai.
Authorities said a drug mule is a type of courier capable of swallowing balloons containing illicit drugs and then transport the illegal drugs across borders. Once they have reached their destination, these balloons are retrieved from the courier’s body.
A drug mule can swallow up to 120 balloons and during their journey, they take medication to inhibit bowel movement. Once they have reached their destination, they are fed laxatives and the balloons pass through their bodies.
