PDEA to file charges over Laos drug haul bound for Manila ‘within this month’

MANILA (UPDATE) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency will soon file illegal drug trade charges against several individuals linked to the multibillion-peso narcotics shipment bound for the Philippines and intercepted in Laos.

PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut told ANC they seek to file charges against all of those involved in the transport of the P3.5 billion worth of shabu bound for Manila “within this month.”

The shabu shipment was seized by Laotian authorities on October 1 at the Luang Prabang International Airport.

A politician from Mindanao allegedly involved in drug trade in the Philippines financed the transport of shabu and that other personalities were also involved, said Calulut, who declined to give names and details about the suspects.

He said the identity of the politician from the southern Philippines, who he said was still in the country, would be revealed once they file the illegal drug trading cases before the Department of Justice.

Calulut said the private jet used to transport the illicit substance was rented from a company and not owned by any politician or businessman. It had a permit to land in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was supposed “to go to Manila.”

“Based on the flight plan that we got from our foreign counterparts, this private jet came from Malaysia, flew to Laos, and then from Laos, it was supposed to go to Manila. And from Manila, it would return to Malaysia,” he said.

“Dahil nahuli na sila sa Laos hindi na sila nakapag-land [sa NAIA].”

The drug syndicate behind the shipment is “quite big,” said Calulut.

“Hindi lang ito mga small-time drug syndicates because they have the means or the capacity to hire a private jet. They also have the means, capacity, to distribute this, particularly sa Metro Manila na rin,” he said.

PDEA previously identified two Filipinos allegedly linked to the attempted smuggling.

One of them, reportedly 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.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation said it identified at least 10 persons and entities of interest in connection with the botched drug shipment.

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

“We have leads and we are in coordination with PDEA and also with our foreign counterparts on that matter,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag said.

He added that the bureau was validating information on known associates of individuals whose names had surfaced publicly.