MANILA - PHILIPPINE police arrested an alleged Singaporean drugs
courier shortly after his arrival at Manila airport, a spokesman
said on Friday.
Soa Kiam Hwee, 36, was taken into custody after he arrived from
Thailand on Thursday with about 4kg of methamphetamine
hydrochloride, a banned stimulant locally known as 'shabu'.
'The contraband was wrapped in (a) transparent plastic bag
together with different currencies,' national police spokesman
Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said in a statement.
'The passenger is an alleged illegal drugs courier and the
recovered items were turned over by the customs police officers to
drug enforcement agents for proper disposition.'
Asian and US authorities have said the Philippines is a major
trans-shipment hub for illegal drugs in the region, mostly by
syndicates with known links to Chinese triads.
Drug trafficking in the Philippines is punishable by life in
jail.
-- AFP