Airport under investigation after security guards are accused of extorting passengers for hundreds of pounds by planting BULLETS in luggage

  • The scam allegedly sees ammunition dropped into travellers luggage  
  • Victims are then required to pay a fine at Ninoy Aquino International Airport
  • Around 40 personnel are reportedly under investigation following claims

By GEORGIA DIEBELIUS FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

An investigation has been launched into Manila's airport security following claims of an alleged 'bullet-planting' scam against passengers.

The scam reportedly sees ammunition dropped into travellers luggage as they go through security at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the Philippines.

Victims are then required to pay a fine ranging between 500 pesos (£6) and 30,000 pesos (£410) or face charges of illegal possession of ammunition.

Around 40 personnel from Office for Transportation Security are allegedly under investigation following claims

Around 40 personnel from Office for Transportation Security are allegedly under investigation following claims

According to the BBC, an overseas Filipino worker and Japanese tourist are the latest to report that they have been victims of the so-called 'bullet scam.'

Filipino worker Gloria Ortinez missed her flight to Hong Kong after being held in police detention for several days.

While going through the security at the airport, which has only recently been removed from the 'world's worst airports list' by travel website, Sleepinginairports.net a bullet was found in her hand luggage.

Despite denying that the bullet was hers, and stating that she would never carry one because of Hong Kong's strict security laws, she was held by the airport's Office of Transportation Security (OTS).

Japanese tourist Kazunobu Sakamoto was arrested after failing to show documents authorising him to carry ammunition - after two bullets were found in his luggage.

An American woman in a wheelchair was allegedly forced to pay 500 pesos (£6) to be let off after two bullets were found in one of the pockets of her luggage

An American woman in a wheelchair was allegedly forced to pay 500 pesos (£6) to be let off after two bullets were found in one of the pockets of her luggage

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that in September, a 20-year-old American man was detained for six days because he said he refused to pay a 30,000 peso penalty (£410), and an American woman in a wheelchair was forced to pay 500 pesos (£6) to be let off after two 22-Caliber bullets were found in one of the pockets of her luggage. 

Surveillance at the airport has been increased following a spate of complaints and an investigation was recently launched into the personnel accused of involvement.

Rappler.com report that at least 40 personnel from the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) are under investigation.

'WORLD'S WORST AIRPORTS' - MANILA NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL 

In October 2014, MailOnline reported that travel website sleepinginairports.net had placed Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport on its annual 'world's worst airports' list.

The airport came in at fourth place after three consecutive years on the top spot, mainly because of overcrowding and air conditioning problems.

The drop from first to fourth place was said to be due to a slight improvement following refurbishment works.

However, customers still took exception to overcrowding, lengthy queues, limited seating, unfriendly immigration officers and smelly toilets, with travellers complaining that Terminal 1 had become Asia's 'largest public sauna' when the air­-conditioning broke down in April.

The airport was dropped from the list this month.

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