Sino drug suspects ‘confess’

The four arrested members of a "hit squad" of the Fujian-based drug syndicate operating in the country are singing like canaries.

During tactical interrogation, the suspects were giving investigators from the anti-narcotics unit of the Phillipine National Police (PNP) all kinds of information they wanted to squeeze from them. However, Narcotics Group (NarcGroup) chief Director Efren Fernandez refused to reveal the information relayed to them by the suspects, Susan Ty Lee, 57; Jianguo Li, 21; Kevin Sy, 20; and Shao Jinghuang, all natives of Fujian province in China, fearing it might jeopardize on-going follow-up operations.

"We have at our disposal heavy information regarding the Chinese drug syndicate operations in the country," said a narcotics official close to Fernandez. "We expect to make more arrests in due time."

He hinted, however, that among the names mentioned by the four suspects are their local protectors, financiers and facilitators.

The arrest of Lee, Li, Sy and Jinghuang during separate operations in Binondo, Manila Thursday brought to 28 the number of Fujian drug syndicate members accounted for since the NarcGroup started operations against them late last year.

Among those arrested was Cai Hontian alias Wah Ya, the head chemist of the drug syndicate who was believed to be its leader. But it turned out otherwise.

"We though that Wah Ya was their top leader but the information we gathered recently proved that we are wrong," said the narcotics official, adding that they are presently tracking down the top leaders of the Fujian-based drug syndicate.

The Fujian-based drug syndicate is believed to be behind the operations of the raided makeshift shabu laboratory in Pasig City. Eight Chinese nationals and three Filipinos were arrested in that raid. The three Filipinos agreed to turn state witnesses.

According to the narcotics official, the four suspects admitted being the "hit squad" of the Fujian drug syndicate.

"Their job involves internal security, disciplining erring members, seeking payments from hard headed suppliers or couriers and killing those threatening to expose the drug syndicate," said the narcotics official who asked not to be identified.

The suspects yielded two 9mm automatic pistols, a caliber .45 automatic pistol and a caliber .357 magnum revolver, which the Narc-Group suspects were "silencing" erring members and government informants.

The four suspects are believed to be behind the killing of David Sy Lato, a civilian agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Lato was working for the Narcgroup on the drug activities and money laundering of the drug syndicate.

However, Fernandez admitted they have no solid evidence linking the four suspects to Lato’s killing last Jan. 30 also in Binondo. – Non Alquitran