P29.7M worth of shabu seized from passenger at NAIA 3
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Saturday that when the authorities examined her luggage, they discovered that the illegal drugs, which were worth P29,702,400, were concealed inside an improvised black duct tape pouch.
The agency said the illegal drugs, which weighed 4.368 kilograms, had been turned over to the PDEA Laboratory Service for confirmatory testing.
Inquest proceedings were conducted for the 43-year-old suspect identified by the alias "Lyn" for importing dangerous drugs, which is a violation of Section 4 of Republic Act 9165.
Floating shabu
In Ilocos Norte, a concerned resident and two fishermen surrendered to authorities P20.4 million worth of shabu found washed ashore off the coasts of Laoag City and Paoay town.
The packs of shabu were surrendered to combined elements of PDEA Ilocos Norte Provincial Office and local counterparts from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) on June 12 and 13.
Photo: PDEA
PDEA reported that as of June 13, residents of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte had turned over 1,243.12 kilograms of floating shabu valued at P8,453,216,000 to the authorities.
'The retrieval operations and scouring of coastlines continue until all surrounding areas are explored. This is a testament to the strong inter-agency collaboration and cooperation among law enforcement agencies, in support of local government units and seaside communities, in protecting our waters from becoming prevailing routes of drug smuggling and trafficking activities,'' said PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
US immigration policies not tackled during meeting with Trump
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., July 22, 2025. REUTERS/ Kent Nishimura President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said the issue of the United States' immigration policies was not discussed during his meeting with US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. At a press conference with the Philippine media delegation, Marcos said that there had been no significant difference in the US immigration policies since Trump began his second term in January. Trump has vowed tough enforcement of immigration law and mass deportation of illegal migrants in the US. ''It's not been raised; it was not, not in this forum, but of course we are well aware of the situation,'' Marcos said. ''I think in our estimation with what the United States is doing now... It's not anything different [from] what they were doing before. Ito 'yung mga may record, mga wanted, convicted, lalong-lalo na kung sila ay illegal, TNT sila, 'yun ang mga pinapauwi nila (these are those with criminal records, wanted, convicted, and illegally staying),'' he added. The Philippine Embassy is providing assistance to undocumented Filipinos through immigration lawyers who offer legal advice and outline available options for them. However, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez has advised illegal immigrants—those who entered the US on tourist visas and then overstayed—to consider voluntarily leaving the country rather than waiting for the possibility of deportation. Recently, a Filipino was among at least 11 illegal aliens convicted of various crimes who were arrested during separate operations by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the individual as a 29-year-old illegal alien from the Philippines. He was arrested in Middlesex, Massachusetts. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
Filipino convict among illegal aliens arrested in US over weekend — DHS
The American flag flies near the Statue of Freedom atop the United States Capitol in Washington on November 2, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst NEW YORK — A Filipino was among at least 11 illegal aliens convicted of various crimes who were arrested during separate operations by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities over the weekend. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the individual was a 29-year-old illegal alien from the Philippines. He was arrested in Middlesex, Massachusetts. According to the DHS, the individual was convicted of multiple charges, including rape, aggravated rape of a child, rape of a child with force, four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14. Information about the arrested Filipino was released by the DHS on July 21 as it reported "criminal illegal aliens" arrested over the weekend, "including murderers, pedophiles, and rapists." In a statement, US Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the arrests were part of President Donald Trump's campaign against criminal illegal aliens. "Over the weekend, our brave ICE agents arrested more depraved criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and three child pedophiles. These are the types of barbaric criminals our ICE law enforcement officers are arresting and removing from American communities every day," McLaughlin said. Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. released an advisory in response to the recent arrests of Filipinos in connection with child abuse cases, reminding Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that such crimes are serious violations of American law. The embassy did not mention a specific incident but the statement was made after US online news Wavy said the Filipino workers of Carnival Sunshine cruise line, all bearing valid 10-year C-1/D visas, were "forcibly removed in handcuffs" by Customs and Border Patrol officers at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia. "In view of the increasing incidents of arrests, detention, and deportation of individuals due to child pornography-related offenses, the Philippine Embassy reminds members of the Filipino community and overseas Filipino workers in the United States, including those onboard vessels in U.S. territorial waters, that child pornography is one of the worst forms of child exploitation. Consuming such material perpetuates this exploitation," the embassy said in its advisory. "U.S. federal and state laws criminalize the production, promotion, possession, viewing, transportation, and distribution of child pornography. Individuals caught engaging in these acts may be prosecuted, penalized, and deported." "In this regard, everyone is strongly urged to refrain from downloading, possessing, viewing, transporting, distributing, or selling child pornography," the advisory said. The embassy also assured the Filipino community that it is ready to assist individuals who believe they have been wrongly accused, urging them to contact the Embassy or the nearest Philippine Consulate immediately. "The Philippine Embassy respects the right of individuals to seek redress or take legal action if they believe they have been wrongly accused of legal infractions. Please contact the Philippine Embassy or the nearest Philippine Consulate General and Migrant Workers Office for consular and welfare assistance," the embassy said. — Dave Llavanes Jr./ VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- GMA Network
PH Embassy warns vs child porn amid arrest of 18 Pinoy seafarers in US
The Philippine Embassy in Washington has issued an advisory against possession and distribution of child pornography in the US amid "increasing incidents onboard vessels in American waters." 'In view of increasing incidents of arrests, detention and deportation of individuals due to child pornography-related offenses, the Philippine embassy reminds the members of the Filipino community and overseas Filipino workers in the United States and onboard vessels in US territorial waters, that child pornography is one of the worst forms of child exploitation and to consume it perpetuates such exploitation,' the embassy said on July 19. The embassy did not mention a specific incident but the statement was made after US online news Wavy said the Filipino workers of Carnival Sunshine cruise line, all bearing valid 10-year C-1/D visas, were 'forcibly removed in handcuffs' by Customs and Border Patrol officers at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia. Officers reportedly told the workers they were accused of possessing child pornography, 'In this regard, everyone is enjoined to desist from downloading, possessing, viewing, transporting, distributing and selling child pornography,' said the embassy advisory. GMA News Online has reached out to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers for comment, but they have yet to reply as of posting time. Arrests Since the Biden administration, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Customs and Border Protection have conducted a series of arrests of cruise ship employees due to alleged child pornography. Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center, and other members of the group protested the arrest outside the cruise ship, saying the Filipinos were abruptly removed despite lack of evidence and due legal process. The embassy, on the other hand, said it 'respects the right of individuals to seek redress of grievances or take legal action if they feel they have been wrongly accused of legal infractions.' 'Please contact the Philippine embassy or the nearest Philippine consulate general and migrant workers office for consular and welfare assistance,' it said. The Philippines is one of the world's largest providers of shipping manpower in the world. A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20 percent of the world's 1.2 million sailors are manning oil tankers, cargo ships, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
