Authorities in the Philippines intercepted a shipment of methamphetamine originating from Malawi with an estimated street value of 26.9 million Philippine pesos, according to Brigada News. The abandoned parcel was discovered on March 11 at a cargo handling facility inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. During a joint operation involving the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, officers found nearly four kilograms of the illegal substance, locally known as shabu, which was destined for a consignee in Pasig City. Philippine National Police Chief General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. commended the inter-agency coordination for successfully preventing the drugs from entering the local market.
In international legal proceedings, Malawi's framework for tracking missing persons was reviewed by the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Appearing before the committee on March 12, Solicitor General Gertrude Lynn Hiwa acknowledged that enforced disappearance is not yet a standalone offence under Malawian domestic law. While elements of the crime are prosecuted under the Penal Code, the government committed to pursuing legal reforms to criminalize enforced disappearances autonomously. The delegation also briefed the committee on ongoing law enforcement efforts to protect vulnerable groups, including a new national action plan and enhanced police powers to prevent the abduction of persons with albinism.
Update: The Anti-Corruption Bureau has publicly defended its decision to clear the K128.7 billion purchase of the Amaryllis Hotel by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund. Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee on March 12, acting director general Gabriel Chembezi acknowledged that the transaction featured multiple warning signs, including a sharply increased purchase price and governance weaknesses, according to allAfrica. Chembezi testified that these administrative issues did not meet the legal definition of corruption, noting that key whistleblowers failed to provide supporting documentation to investigators. Despite the initial clearance, The Daily Times reports that the bureau remains open to reopening the probe if a forensic audit uncovers new evidence of fraud.