Authorities identified the suspect as Dario Cortez, who was caught with the P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs inside his bag as he was about to board a SuperFerry 12 to Cebu. Commodore Wilfredo Tamayo, of the Coast Guard National Capital Region Station, said the pack of shabu was discovered through the X-ray machine of the Task Force Sea Marshall of the Coast Guard at the port.
Charges of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165), have been filed against Cortez with the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office.
Meanwhile, Tamayo said they have stepped up security measures in all ports of the country following the arrest of Cortez.
He said they have received intelligence reports that drug syndicates are now using domestic passenger vessels to transport illegal substances to various provinces because security measures in airports have already been tightened. – Edu Punay