2 Filipinos under probe over Laos shabu haul bound for PH — PDEA
MANILA, Philippines — Two Filipinos are currently the subjects of an ongoing investigation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) over their alleged link to a recent high-value drug bust in Laos, which authorities also confirmed was bound for the Philippines.
In a press briefing on Monday, October 12, the drug enforcement agency said they have established that the 521 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, or shabu, that Lao authorities intercepted over a week ago at Luang Prabang International Airport was supposed to be delivered to the Philippines through a private jet.
The pilot of the private jet reportedly refused to load the luggage of the Filipino passenger who was carrying the luggage, which eventually led to the individual’s arrest and the plane’s cancellation of its flight to the Philippines.
“The very clear feature as of today is na-discover iyong droga dahil the pilot refused to load those baggages doon sa airplane papuntang Pilipinas. Kaya nung hindi na natuloy ‘yung ah 'yung pag-load ng baggages doon sa eroplano, ang ginawa ng airline company canceled its flight plan papunta sa Pilipinas,” PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said.
(The very clear feature as of today is that the drugs were discovered because the pilot refused to load those baggages in the airplane bound for the Philippines. That's why the loading of baggage did not proceed, and the airline company canceled its flight going to the Philippines.)
The agency identified the arrested suspect as “Fajad”, a confirmed Filipino national with alleged current residence in Marawi. Nerez said they also have a list of Fajad’s other addresses.
Authorities are now investigating to identify Fajad’s accomplices while he remains detained in Laos, including another Filipino identified as “Boyet”.
'Boyet'
Nerez said Boyet is among the persons of interest in PDEA’s target list for allegedly being responsible for chartering the private jet that was supposed to be used to transport the suspected drugs.
The authorities said they have established a link between Fajad and Boyet, and found that both of them have residences in Luzon.
“We have a data that si Boyet is taga-rito sa Luzon, at ‘yung si Fajad meron ding address sa Luzon, parehas po. So that links them na or establish 'yung link nila na magkakilala,” Nerez said.
(We have data showing that Boyet is from Luzon, and Fajad also has an address in Luzon. So that links them or establishes a connection between them, suggesting that they know each other.)
Boyet allegedly paid for the private jet through bank transfer, but authorities did not disclose the amount.
PDEA also said they have acquired information saying Boyet had already skipped the country and went to Hong Kong.
The agency said they are currently building a case against both Boyet and Fajad, noting that some of the information remains confidential amid the probe.
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