MANILA, Philippines — Authorities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted a foreign passenger carrying over ₱55 million worth of suspected shabu hidden inside two hollowed out Bible books, in a high profile drug interdiction operation on February 13, 2026.

Discovery at the Airport

Customs officers at NAIA Terminal 3 flagged the man’s luggage during routine X ray screening, noticing suspicious images in his backpack. During the physical examination, authorities found two Bible books with false compartments containing nine improvised pouches wrapped in packaging tape and carbon plastic, containing approximately 8,145 grams of white crystalline substance, later confirmed to be shabu (methamphetamine) — a powerful illegal stimulant.

The seized narcotics have an estimated street value of about ₱55,386,000 million.

Suspect and Charges

The suspect, identified only as “Peter,” a 77 year old German national, arrived on a connecting flight from Johannesburg, South Africa. He was immediately detained by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) after the find.

Authorities seized his travel documents, personal belongings, and the contraband were seized as authorities prepared charges for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165) and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Enforcement Response

Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno highlighted the success as part of sustained border control efforts using technology, intelligence, and inter agency coordination. He stated that attempts to smuggle illegal drugs into the Philippines through ports of entry will be detected, intercepted, and prosecuted.

The case is now under investigation, and authorities are working with PDEA to pursue full legal action against the suspect.

AI Image Disclaimer: Visuals created with AI tools for illustrative purposes only; they do not represent real-life photographs.