BEFORE anything else, the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) extends its gratitude to the staff of McDonald’s Taft Avenue, led by manager Marie Granadil, for their warm accommodation and swift service during our recent unplanned gathering.
We were highly satisfied with the venue, the assistance given, and the way our special request was handled. Thank you — we may return sooner than expected.
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Barely a month after Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa returned as district collector of the Bureau of Customs–Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), the port has already intercepted more than P60 million worth of illegal drugs — a strong start that underscores her commitment to tightening border security.
Atty. Mapa resumed her post on October 28, 2025, upon the order of BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
On her first day alone, she reported a major drug bust involving an arriving passenger from Addis Ababa. The suspect, arrested at NAIA Terminal 3 in coordination with airport security and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), was found carrying approximately 6,250 grams of shabu valued at P42.5 million.
Indeed, Mapa began her comeback with a bang.
The said accomplishment came on her first day at work, or shortly after taking her oath before BOC Assistant Commissioner Atty. Vincent Philip C. Maronilla.
Prior to this, suspicious images were detected by the BOC’s x-ray personnel in the passenger’s hand-carry baggage during a routine screening at the arrival area. Upon further inspection and field testing using a Raman Spectrometer, the contents tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
And then on November 27, 2025, at a warehouse in Pasay City, BOC-NAIA personnel, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG), intercepted three abandoned inbound parcels containing various illegal drugs during the said operation.
Approximately 280 grams of marijuana kush, 394 cannabis tablets and 77 grams of amphetamine worth about half a million pesos were seized. All items were misdeclared in an attempt to evade inspection.
The following day, or on November 28, a luggage previously detected to contain what was suspected to be drugs was abandoned at the NAIA Terminal 3 Arrival Area and intercepted by airport authorities. It turned out that the luggage indeed contained approximately 9,940 grams of marijuana kush, valued at P14.9 million.
The said luggage was left unclaimed by an arriving female foreign passenger from Bangkok, Thailand, who had a scheduled connecting flight bound for Macau.
According to Mapa, an X-ray operator first detected the suspicious images inside the luggage during routine screening. The prompt detection prevented the suspected illegal drugs from leaving the airport.
The matter was immediately reported to the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) and the PDEA K9 Team, with the use of a Narcotics Detection Dog, verified the presence of illegal substances.
A subsequent manual inspection by BOC personnel revealed 18 vacuum-sealed pouches containing the said illegal substances. Later, investigators confirmed that the passenger had already departed for Macau, thus evading arrest.
Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno emphasized the bureau’s broader efforts to reinforce security measures, stressing that its mandate to secure the nation’s borders goes beyond routine enforcement; it requires constant improvement, cooperation and readiness.
He also made the assurance that the BOC is investing in better systems, stronger coordination and more robust safeguards to ensure that illegal drugs are stopped way before they reach the communities.
Pursuant to this, Atty. Mapa assured that all operations form part of the BOC-NAIA’s continuous commitment to keep our country’s ports secure and to protect the public from harmful substances. For her, sustained vigilance is key.
Congrats to the BOC-NAIA for a job well done!!!
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