INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. yesterday said authorities are going after other foreigners allegedly behind the 1.4 tons of shabu worth P9.68 billion seized in Alitagtag, Quezon last month.
Abalos issued the statement after police operatives arrested a Canadian, Thomas Gordon O’Quinn, alias James Toby Martin, in Tagaytay City, Cavite last Thursday.
Police said the arrest of O’Quinn was “directly connected” to the seizure of 1.4 tons of shabu in Alitagtag last April 15.
The arrest of O’Quinn, which was announced last Friday, was effected by the PNP and Bureau of Immigration by virtue of an Interpol Red Notice. He yielded illegal drugs.
The 1.4 tons of shabu were found in a van that was intercepted by policemen at a checkpoint in Barangay Pinagkrusan. The driver, Alajon Michael Zarate, was arrested and now faces charges.
Abalos said O’Quinn is one of the “major characters” in the shipment of the shabu seized in Alitagtag but did not provide further details, saying an investigation is ongoing.
“I’m sorry but I would have to make it as general as that. He is not a minor player; he is a major player,” Abalos said of O’Quinn.
Asked if there are other foreigners involved in the shabu shipment, Abalos said: “We’ll definitely, he is not the only foreigner the way I say things.
“There are others. That’s the only thing I can say right now. We are seeing others (foreigners) who are involved here.”
Abalos said investigators are continuing with their probe, adding authorities will make announcements in the “proper time.”
“But what is important right now is they already identified most of them. We are just trying to build up these cases against them at present,” said Abalos, adding cases will be filed soon.
Police arrested the driver of a Toyota Vios (NBM-2817) who yielded P840,000 worth of suspected dangerous drugs in Teresa, Rizal last Sunday night.
Col. Felipe Maraggun, Rizal provincial police office (PPO) director, identified the suspect as alias Buboy, a resident of La Hacienda, Teresa, Rizal. Seized from him were around 8 kilos of marijuana leaves.
The car driven by the suspect had earlier hit and injured an 8-year-old boy identified as Ziel Abud, of Bagumbayan, Teresa Rizal, who was brought to a nearby hospital. — With Christian Oineza
