P3.5 billion Laos drugs linked to Davao-based group?

MANILA, Philippines —  The National Bureau of Investigation is pursuing leads, but has yet to establish evidence that a Davao-based drug syndicate is allegedly behind the attempt to smuggle 512 kilos of suspected shabu into the country, according to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.

“We have leads and are coordinating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and our foreign counterparts,” Matibag told reporters at the NBI headquarters yesterday.

Matibag declined to identify the persons being investigated, saying the NBI is still validating information about the known associates of those already publicly identified as having links to the case.

“We have no solid findings on that yet. There are indications that drug syndicates may be connected, but I am not prepared to say which syndicate because we have to coordinate with PDEA, the lead agency investigating this,” Matibag said.

The NBI has at least 10 persons and entities of interest in connection with the botched drug shipment from Laos, which authorities believe was intended for the Philippines.

The NBI said it is coordinating with PDEA and other law enforcement partners to identify those who may have arranged or facilitated the shipment.

The suspected shabu haul was seized by Laotian authorities on Oct. 1 at the Luang Prabang International Airport. The shipment was on a chartered private jet. Philippine authorities have valued the haul at about P3.5 billion.

The PDEA earlier identified two Filipinos allegedly linked to the attempted smuggling.

One of them, known as Dibaroson Fahad and reported to be a resident of Marawi City, was arrested in Laos. The other, identified only as Boyet, allegedly arranged the chartered flight and reportedly left for Hong Kong before the operation.

‘Mindanao pol  funded shipment’

A politician from Mindanao who is said to be a critic of the Marcos administration allegedly funded the shabu  shipment from Laos, the PDEA announced yesterday.

PDEA spokesman Joseph Frederick Calulut said they are preparing to file criminal cases against the politician, whose identity is being withheld, for drug trading in violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Calulut said the politician allegedly rented the private jet that was supposed to deliver the contraband to the Philippines. However, the aircraft was intercepted by Laotian authorities.

“We already validated that he provided the payment to charter the flight,” Calulut said in a phone interview.

Calulut declined to identify the politician and the amount that was paid for the aircraft, but said he was a “politician from the south whose political party is against the current administration.”

Speaking to reporters, Calulut said they identified the politician based on the bank transactions between Fahad and other members of the gang.

The PDEA is also looking into reports that the politician’s family is involved in illegal drugs.

The intercepted drugs were sourced from Sam Gor, an alliance of five drug cartels: 14K, Bamboo Union, Big Circle Gang, Sun Yeen On and Wo Shing Wo.  It is named after Tse Chi Lop, a Chinese-Canadian who is facing drug trafficking cases in Australia.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, for its part, is also looking into the drug shipment as part of its proactive measures against transnational crime syndicates.

PAOCC executive director Benjamin Acorda Jr. and other law enforcement officials, during a meeting on Wednesday, outlined ways to strengthen inter-agency measures to detect and prevent illegal drugs from being smuggled into the country.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), meanwhile, is in close coordination with investigating agencies in connection with the drug seizure in Laos.

The aircraft involved in the smuggling attempt is registered in the United States, while both pilots listed in the flight plan hold licenses issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The CAAP confirmed that the request for a flight permit in the Philippines was submitted on Sept. 24 by Aerosky Service Corp. on behalf of CGTAsia.

“CAAP remains firm in its commitment to ensuring safe skies, safeguarding aviation security, and upholding the integrity of our aviation system,” CAAP Director General (Ret.) Raul del Rosario said. –  Emmanuel Tupas,  Rudy Santos