NABBED AT NAIA A foreigner, identified as a Nigerian, and a Filipina are arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday, April 28, 2022, after receiving a package with 588 grams of shabu during controlled delivery operations. PHOTO BY BOC-NAIA

A Nigerian and his cohort were arrested during a shabu-controlled delivery operation in Las Piñas City, the Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BoC-NAIA) said on Friday.

The BoC-NAIA said Christian Ubatuegwu, 42, and his Filipina companion identified as Juliet Macapili Canibuda, 54, were receiving a package on Thursday (April 28) when operatives of the bureau, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Force apprehended them.

The government agents said the methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu which amounted to almost P4 million was concealed in a baby bottle sterilizer.

The package was delivered at the pick-up point at Marcos Alvarez Avenue Corner Veraville Homes, Talon Singko, Las Piñas City.

According to the bureau, the package was initially discovered at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City when the BoC-NAIA conducted x-ray scanning.

The package was subsequently subjected to a hundred percent physical examination by a Customs examiner which later found 588 grams of white crystalline substances wrapped in aluminum foil and concealed inside a baby bottle sterilizer and dryer.

The BoC-NAIA further said that the package came from Laos and declared as an electric steamer.

The government operatives formed a team to conduct controlled delivery operations that led to the arrests of the two suspects.

The two, whom the government agents did not identify, were turned over to the PDEA and were presently undergoing custodial investigation.