Muscat: Authorities have warned Omanis traveling to the Philippines to be extra alert about their baggage after some staff members at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the Philippines were accused of planting live bullets in passengers’ luggage as part of an extortion racket.
Travelers have been urged to tightly seal their luggage to ensure no risk of anyone placing prohibited items into their luggage.
No Omanis have fallen victim to the scam, according to the Royal Oman Police, but many have changed travel plans to visit Malaysia or Thailand instead.
Omanis still traveling to the Philippines are pass ing through other airports. Around 5,000 Omanis travel to the Philippines every year, according Ministry of Tourism figures.
Victims of the scam have been forced to fork out $500 or more to avoid arrest, according to media reports.
The case has come to be known in the international media as the "Laglag Bala" (or Filipino for "dropping bullets") scam.
