SUSPICIOUS TRAVEL PATTERN LEADS TO ARREST OF PINAY DRUG COURIER AT NAIA TERMINAL 3

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) Anti-Terrorist Group (ATG) on Thursday night intercepted a Filipina found to be carrying ilegal drugs.

BI-ATG head Bienvenido Castillo III. reported the interception of Joy Dagonano Gulmatico, 29, after she arrived from Sierra Leone aboard an Ethiopian Air flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

Castillo said that they monitored suspicious flight pattern taken by the subject, hence they immediately recommended that she be inspected by members of the NAIA Drug Interdiction Task Group (DITG).

Bureau of customs (BOC) personnel inspected Gulmatico’s luggage and found suspicious substances concealed inside the lining of four handbags and a suitcase.

NAIA-DITG members, including personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP) Aviation Security Group, Airport Police Department, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, and the National Bureau of Investigation assisted in the inspection.

Testing by BOC personnel confirmed that the powdery substance is positive for cocaine, totaling to 4.574 kilograms with a street value of more than P24 million.

Authorities held the suspect for inquest proceedings.

Gulmatico faces charges for drug trafficking, in violation of Philippine laws.