Authorities arrested a 47-year-old Portuguese English teacher at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 after discovering marijuana inside his backpack.
The suspect, who was scheduled to fly to Davao, underwent routine security screening when x-ray operators spotted a pair of scissors. Airport authorities consider scissors a security risk item, prompting personnel to conduct a thorough manual inspection of the passenger’s belongings.
During the inspection, officers found a transparent ziplock bag containing approximately five grams of suspected marijuana hidden inside the backpack. Members of the PDEA-NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group and a K9 unit immediately examined the seized substance. Their field tests produced positive results for illegal drugs, confirming the presence of marijuana in the suspect’s possession.
Police officers swiftly arrested the foreign national after the positive drug test and escorted him to the custody of NAIA-IADITG. Authorities began proper documentation and initiated the necessary legal procedures following the arrest.
The confiscated substance will undergo a confirmatory test at PDEA’s laboratory to officially verify its composition and serve as evidence. Airport security officials emphasized their commitment to intercepting illegal drugs and ensuring the safety of all passengers and airport personnel.
