Philippine Authorities nab Singaporean mother-daughter duo for drug smuggling
Authorities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, arrested a mother and her daughter for attempting to smuggle 14.36 kilograms of cocaine into the Philippines. The suspects, Singaporean nationals identified as Siti Aishan Binte Wang, 63 and her daughter, Nur Alaviyah Binti Hanaffe, 39. The mother works as a waitress while the daughter is a make-up artist. They both arrived in Manila via a Qatar Airlines flight from Doha.
Law enforcement agencies collaborated successfully to apprehend the pair. Part of that was profiling arriving passengers led authorities to the suspects. Furthermore, it was there that they uncovered cocaine. The suspects had concealed the drugs creatively in cylindrical containers, biscuit tins, canisters, and boxes hidden beneath the suspects’ luggage.
After their arrest, the authorities turned over the illicit drugs, valued at over P76 million, to PDEA for custody and further investigation. Simultaneously, the authorities handed both suspects over to PDEA for the same purpose. The authorities are actively working to unravel the smuggling operation’s details. These include identifying possible connections and determining the ultimate destination of the confiscated cocaine.
Philippine Authorities are steadfast in their commitment to keep the Philippines drug-free
This incident underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement authorities to combat drug trafficking in the Philippines. The successful interception of a substantial quantity of cocaine showcases the effectiveness and vigilance of security measures at NAIA. The Philippine government remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding its borders and protecting its citizens from the harmful effects of illegal drugs.
The Singaporean passengers were found in possession of a trolley bag and a duffle bag containing the illicit substances. Moreover, they now face charges under the Republic Act (RA) 9165, the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002, and RA 10863, the Customs Modernisation and Tariff Act. When questioned by Philippine media, Siti Aishan denied knowledge of the illegal substances. She asserted that she was unaware of their contents. Her daughter echoed her statement. Nonetheless, the authorities continue their investigation into the smuggling attempt.
