NBI foils drug smuggling in own HQ

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation said it had foiled an attempt to smuggle illegal drugs into its detention facility Thursday night.

The courier, when arrested, claimed that the drugs were intended for a recently arrested Australian suspect, according to NBI Director Virgilio Mendez.

The NBI chief said Peligro Asilo was caught hiding a stash of cocaine and marijuana in the tube container of a popular brand of potato chips.

When questioned, Asilo claimed to be an Army reservist officer and that he was visiting an Australian detainee, whom Mendez declined to identify when he spoke to reporters Friday.

Ruel Lasala, deputy director for investigative services, said Asilo’s contraband was intercepted due to heightened security at the NBI compound in Manila following the arrest of other foreigners linked to the international drug trade.

“The level of threat (to liquidate) arrested members of illegal drug syndicates is really that high and extends to the law enforcers who arrested them,” he said.

The NBI detention center is also currently holding two Canadians recently arrested in raids on high-end residences in Taguig and Makati cities, whom agents suspect to be working for the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel of Mexico.

Mendez said the Canadians—Barry Espadilla and James Riach—had been found to be facing murder, weapons and drug charges in their home country.

Canadian officials had established contact with the NBI regarding the two suspects, he said.

“Apart from the safety of the suspects, they also want to ensure that they will not be released and (the possibility of them) engaging again in illegal activities is greatly reduced, Mendez said.

“We received an advisory from our foreign counterparts of the serious threat against the suspects and our own agents who were responsible for their arrest,” he added.

The NBI had secured photos of the supposed assassins, but “we still do not have sufficient proof of their presence in the country,” the bureau chief added.