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MANILA, Philippines—An alleged big boss of a big-time drug syndicate operating in Binondo, Manila, has been arrested in Paranaque City in an anti-illegal drug operation, a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) official said Thursday.
PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez Jr. identified the suspect as Mark Tan a.k.a Ronghao Chen, who was arrested near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Agents seized him after being identified as to be one of the big-time drug traffickers in the country.
According to PDEA, Tan used his own bank account to receive payments for illicit transactions from different parts of the country.
Gutierrez said Tan eluded arrest during a buy-bust operation on Timog Avenue, Quezon City last February 2, which on the other hand, resulted in the arrest of Clarence Chen Go a.k.a Tony Go, who revealed that Tan was his “big boss.”
PDEA said their agency is intensifying its campaign against high-value targets, particularly illegal drug financiers and drug lords operating in the country–a compliance with the directive of President Benigno Aquino III.