In a surprising discovery during a demolition project at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, construction workers unearthed a substantial amount of illegal drugs. While dismantling the kitchen of an old restaurant, the workers encountered three large packets concealed within a grease trap. Upon inspection, these packets were found to contain substances suspected to be shabu (methamphetamine), with an estimated value of P11.4 million.
The discovery was unexpected and raised concerns about how these drugs ended up in such a location. The packets, having been stored in the grease trap for an extended period, had undergone discoloration. Following this discovery, officials from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group were promptly called to the scene. The PDEA estimated that the total weight of the three packets exceeded 1.5 kilograms.
This incident has prompted inquiries into the security measures at the airport, with questions arising about the method of smuggling these drugs into the facility. As of the report’s publishing, the Manila International Airport Authority had not yet commented on the incident, and the PNP-AVSEGROUP was also yet to respond. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in curbing the illegal drug trade and ensuring the security of critical infrastructure like airports.