The Bureau of Immigration (BI) was recently lauded for its efforts to halt the proliferation of illegal drugs at the country’s premier airport, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In an event held last February 8 at the NAIA Terminal 3, BI Anti-Terrorist Group (ATG) Head Bienvenido Castillo Jr. received for the agency a recognition for outstanding excellence for the effective and efficient implementation of numerous anti-illegal drug operations within the airport, as part of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-DITG).
The BI assists the inter-agency in monitoring and interdicting drug mules who attempt to enter the country.
It can be recalled that in September last year, the BI played a crucial role in the interception of mother-duo tandem identified as Siti Aishah Binte Awang and Nur Alaviyah Binte Hanaffe, both Singaporeans, for smuggling in six cookie tin cans and five cylindrical chip cans containing 564 pellets with white powdered substance.
The substance, identified as cocaine, totaled more or less 14,360 grams with a current street value of P76,108,000.00.
In June 2023, the BI was also instrumental in the arrest of Canadian Wendy Jane Marais, who was found with 7.15 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, concealed inside bags of individually-wrapped chocolate candies, with an estimated street value of P48,680,000.00.