Ten suspects who reportedly transported about P11 billion worth of shabu and arrested in Infanta, Quezon last Tuesday, March 15, are now detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) center in Manila.
In a statement, the NBI identified the suspects as Jamelanie Samsono, Reynante Alpuerto, Jenard Samson, Mark Brayn Abonita, Dante Manoso, Kenneth Abonita, Marvin Gallardo, Eugene Pandoma, Alvin Evardo, and Jaymante Gallaro.
The NBI said the suspects will be charged with violations of Section 5 (Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals) under Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
It said the 10 suspects were arrested at about 4 a.m. in Barangay Comon in Infanta last March 15 while transporting 1,589 tea bags containing shabu aboard three commuter vans.
“Unprecedented and historic, considering the volume and amount, as of date, this is the biggest drug haul in Philippine history, which was made possible through the sterling leadership of NBI OIC (Officer-in-Charge) Director Eric B. Distor and ARD (Assistant Regional Director) Roel S. Bolivar, OIC of Intelligence Service,” it stressed.
NBI Deputy Director for Forensic Investigation Service Ferdinand Lavin said the seized shabu is currently undergoing inventory and laboratory processing by NBI chemists and forensic experts.
The NBI said it acted on information from a tipster but declined to give any more details due to ongoing follow-up operations.
The operation was conducted by the NBI’s Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID), the NBI’s Research and Analysis Division (NBI-RAD) and NBI’s Lucena District Office (NBI-LUCDO) in coordination with the Philippine national Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Distor lauded the NBI agents who participated in the operation and gave spot promotions to them.
“The war against illegal drugs will continue and relentlessly pursued for as long as there are unscrupulous individuals who ply illegal drugs to the detriment of our society,” Distor said.