South African caught with P40.8-M shabu at NAIA

Philippine News Agency

NABBED. Authorities conduct an inventory on the PHP40.8 million worth of suspected shabu found inside the luggage of a 30-year-old South African national at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Sunday (Feb. 15, 2026). The suspect, who arrived from Johannesburg via Hong Kong, was immediately arrested and will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MANILA – A South African national was arrested after he was found in possession of about PHP40.8 million worth of illegal drugs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 over the weekend.

In a statement Monday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the 30-year-old suspect, identified only as “JD,” arrived from Johannesburg via Hong Kong at around 10:50 a.m. on Sunday.

Recovered from the suspect were around 6,000 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of PHP40.8 million, along with non-drug items such as travel documents, identification cards, mobile phones, personal belongings and foreign currency.

PDEA said the seized evidence were turned over to its laboratory service for examination and proper disposition.

The suspect will face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.