By Benjamin Pulta
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday that it has established sufficient evidence to pursue charges against the consignee linked to the seizure of over 31 kilograms of shabu valued at PHP218.4 million in Pasay City. The confiscation was carried out by the members of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
According to the DOJ’s statement, Christine Tigranes will be prosecuted for violating Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act), and Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation) of RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).
Tigranes allegedly received the illegal contrabands from a certain Isaac Chikore from Zimbabwe People’s Air Cargo and Warehousing Co., Inc. (PAIR-PAGS) Center at NAIA Complex in Pasay City on April 17.
The shipment was initially declared as “machinery muffler” but authorities later found plastic contains within the metal parts that contain white crystalline substances that turned out to be shabu.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tigranes’ arrest should be a warning for those involved in illegal drugs.
“Expect that our crusade against this menace to society will be more vicious in the upcoming days and will never stop until we attain our ultimate goal of a 100 percent drug-free Philippines,” Remulla said.
“The department is firm in its commitment to waging war against drugs.” (PNA)
