Airport security officer “caught stealing $300 from a passenger and swallowing the money”
- A control agent in the Philippines has been caught allegedly stealing money
- CCTV footage shows airport officer taking $300 from passenger’s bag
- He then tries to “swallow” the dollar bills by placing them in his mouth.
A screening officer from the Philippine Office of Transportation Security (OTS) was caught allegedly stealing $300 from a female passenger by stuffing the bills into her mouth.
Authorities are now investigating the incident that occurred at Terminal 1 of the country’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The security officer took the passenger’s bag for a manual inspection while he passed through an X-ray scanner, according to the Manila Bulletin.
CCTV footage from September 8 showed the officer turning around while placing something in his waist area.
A report from airport authorities said the officer operating the X-ray machine was seen passing a bottle of water to the screening officer; This officer was then seen trying to swallow the bills.
A Transportation Security Bureau screening officer was caught on CCTV allegedly stealing $300 from a passenger.
According to the report, “she was clearly seen deliberately swallowing the dollar bills, folded into a small piece,” and even ignored a passing passenger who tried to ask him something.
“He was seen to have difficulty swallowing the bills despite drinking the bottled water he had been given earlier,” the report added.
The inspecting officer’s supervisor approached her, while she “apparently communicated with her, as the latter was obviously nearly choking in her effort to swallow the dollar bills while using her handkerchief to cover her mouth,” according to The report.
in a statement On Monday, the OTS said the identity of the security officer had been established.
‘Upon receiving information regarding the recent allegations of theft involving a Security Screening Officer (SSO) at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where cash worth three hundred (300) US dollars went missing, the Security Office of Transportation (OTS) took steps to validate the information and begin its fact-finding investigation.’
He stressed that the incident does not reflect “the code of conduct of officials, much less the fundamental values.”
CCTV footage from September 8 showed the officer turning around while placing something in his waist area, before swallowing the dollar bills.
OTS Undersecretary Administrator Ma.O Aplasca urged whistleblowers to report illegal activities committed by OTS personnel.
Following the first theft reported at the security checkpoint, Aplasca said security measures were implemented, including removing jackets and searching the pockets of security officers’ uniforms.
The staff members involved were immediately fired, prosecuted and reported to the public, Alasca said.
The images have since been shared on Reddit, where hundreds of users commented on the incident.
Some joked: “My God, money is crap” and “She’s money-hungry.”
Others questioned his technique: “I like how he stands directly in front of the security camera and then takes forever to finish the job.”
