DOJ asks suspected Chinese drug lord to answer smuggling complaint

SMUGGLING FOILED The P1.8-billion shipment of “shabu” (crystal meth) was discovered on March 22 in a container declared to be holding plastic resin at the Manila International Container Port. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has summoned a suspected Chinese drug Lord and his co-respondents to answer a complaint related to the smuggling of P1.8 billion worth of illegal drugs.

The DOJ panel of prosecutors chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Clarisa Kuong has scheduled the first hearing of the preliminary investigation on July 5 and 10.

On the said dates, Xu Zhi Jian, alias Jacky Co, and the 16 other respondents will be required to submit their response through a counter-affidavit as well as supporting evidence.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) last May 31 against the respondents for violation of Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs), in relation to Section 31 (Additional Penalty if Offender is an Alien) of Republic Act.A. No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended by R.A. No. 10640.

The officers and directors of Wealth Lotus Empire Corporation and Fortuneyield Cargo Services are also accused of importation of drugs in violation of Section 30 (Criminal Liability of Officers of Partnerships, Corporations, Associations or other Juridical Entities) of R.A. No. 9165 as amended by R.A. No. 10640.

On March 22, joint government operatives led by the PDEA who acted on a tip from their counterparts from Vietnam conducted an interdiction operation at the Manila International Container Port – Container Freight Station 3 (MICP-CFS3).

The operation led to the confiscation of 276,344.82 grams of shabu (crystal meth) concealed in sacks of plastic resin worth P1,876,800,000. (Editor: Eden Estopace)

RELATED STORY:
PDEA files charges vs Jacky Co, 16 others in P1.8 ‘shabu’ smuggling