InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - An Indonesian woman was arrested Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 for trying to smuggle into the country 8.7 kilos of crack cocaine estimated to be worth P40 million.
Dwi Wulandari was apprehended by the combined task force of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) upon arrival from Dubai on Emirates flight EK332.
BOC Police District Collector Marlon Almeda said the suspect was arrested after Customs inspectors found the illegal drugs wrapped in a black tin foil in the lining of her luggage when it was opened in front of PDEA and Customs personnel.
Wulandari arrived in the country at 5:10 p.m. on Saturday and presented her luggage to the Customs inspector at the arrival hall saying that she had nothing to declare, but upon thorough inspection the package in the black tin foil showed up in a false bottom.
She was immediately led to a seclusion area for further test of the contents of her luggage and upon initial screening by “cobalt thiocyanate” test conducted by chemist Renalyn Barbacena, it was found to be positive for cocaine.
In his report to NAIA Deputy District Collector for Passenger Services Tess Roque, Sherwin Andrada, Chief of Customs Task Force on Dangerous Drugs & Controlled Substance at NAIA, said the suspect denied that she knew she was carrying illegal drugs. However, her passport reveals that the suspect left for Indonesia and traveled to China then to Peru, proceeded to Brazil and to Dubai, and arrived in Manila where she was intercepted.
The suspect was charged before the Pasay City Regional Trial Court and is currently being held at the PDEA-National Capital Region detention facility.
