Pubdate: Sat, 28 Aug 2004 Source: Today (Philippines) Copyright: 2004 Today Contact: http://www.today.net.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3458 Author: Froilan Legaspi, Today Correspondent Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) NARC AGENTS SEIZE P2.5-M SHABU An estimated P2.5 million worth of the drug shabu was seized by narcotics agents from a couple in Pasay City last Thursday. PNP chief Director General Edgar Aglipay, concurrent head of the Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) presented the suspects Cairoden Nanak, 34, and his wife Monina, 31, to mediamen on Saturday at the task force headquarters in Camp Crame. The couple, residents of Manisan Street, in Quiapo, Manila, were arrested during a buy-bust operation led by Supt. Eduardo Acierto at the parking lot of Copacobana Apartelle on edsa in Pasay City around 10 p.m. last Thursday. Seized from them were a kilo of suspected shabu, a .45-caliber pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition and identification cards. "The suspects' arrest would serve as another warning to drug pushers that authorities would pursue them and place them behind bars," Aglipay said during the news conference in Camp Crame. The couple are now detained in Camp Crame. Meanwhile, a trader at the Bureau of Customs was tagged as allegedly being behind the smuggling of illegal drugs, particularly the popular "Ecstasy," in the country. Highly-placed sources at the bureau told Today that the "importation" of the popular Ecstasy drugs, which is currently the main illegal substance being used by high profile celebrities and in the high ladder of society, is being transacted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). It said that the "importation" is being made almost five times in a month's time. The same source said the suspect is an importer and broker doing business at the bureau, is behind the smuggling of the illegal drugs. The modus operandi of the trader is reportedly mixing the illegal Ecstasy drugs in his other legal shipments that passed through the so-called "green lane" at the MICP, meaning it passed the "unsuspecting" monitoring of bureau examiners. The businessman is reportedly being protected by some corrupt Customs officials at the MICP, who receives substantial amounts of protection money. The trader is allegedly so well-liked at the bureau that he has become "untouchable" even as his smuggling activities are being made boldly in the open. "His importation of Ecstasy has been going on for the past months but it goes into the open market without being 'detected' by Customs officials and other law-enforcement agencies," the source, who requested anonymity said. Concerned officials at the bureau noted that newly appointed Customs Commissioner George Jereos should make the necessary and deep investigation on the "workings" of the trader in the bureau and identify who are his protectors.