Australian nabbed for shabu at NAIA

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February 21, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A 63-year-old Australian was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Thursday after NAIA security personnel found four kilos of shabu hidden in his backpack, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said.

According to the PDEA, the Australian was intercepted at 7:15 p.m. upon his arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa with a connecting flight to Hong Kong.

Airport security at the x-ray screening counter found suspicious items in his backpack, prompting them to conduct a thorough check.

Two improvised wooden boxes containing shabu placed in transparent plastic bags and wrapped in carbon paper were found during the inspection.

The PDEA said the contraband has a street value of P27.25 million.

Apart from shabu, authorities seized the man’s travel documents, identification cards, bank cards, cellphone and other personal belongings.

Bureau of Customs-NAIA district collector Yasmin Mapa said the seized drugs would be submitted to a forensic laboratory for qualitative and quantitative examination, before filing a case against the suspect for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old balikbayan from Amsterdam was arrested by the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group at NAIA Terminal 3 yesterday.

The PNP-ASG said the man has a pending arrest warrant for violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.