MANILA, Philippines - Two teachers, suspected of being drug “mules” or couriers, were arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as they were on their way to China with almost a kilo of heroin, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday.
During a press conference held at the NBI headquarters yesterday, NBI director Nestor Mantaring presented suspects Maryjane Vargas, 28, a kindergarten teacher at Shenzhen in Guangzhou, China; and Salvador Alberto II, 30, a teacher at Shanwei College in Guangdong province.
The two are detained at the NBI jail and face charges for transporting illegal drugs.
The press conference was also attended by Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera; Ilocos Norte Rep. Roquito Ablan, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs; and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Vicente Sotto III.
The NBI said continuous efforts against the West African Drugs Syndicates (WADS) and their Filipino cohorts led to the arrest of the two suspects, which was also made in close coordination with the Royal Malaysian Police.
In August 2008, initial operations by both agencies resulted in the arrest of nine West Africans, seven Filipinos, and one Sri Lankan, all members of WADS operating worldwide.
As of July 2008, a total of 240 Filipinos are in jail in different countries for drug trafficking offenses.
The NBI said Vargas arrived in the country from Malaysia on July 31 via Cebu Pacific Air at the NAIA Terminal 3. She checked in at a Pasay City hotel, where she met Alberto, who was set to go to China later that day.
However, at the departure area of the NAIA Terminal 1, where flights of China Southern Airlines take off, NBI agents confronted Alberto about the contents of his luggage.
He immediately pointed to Vargas as the one who requested him to carry the luggage to China. A search of the luggage led to the discovery and seizure of 887.8 grams of heroin, which has a street value of P8 million.
Sotto, for his part, warned Filipinos not to fall prey to those who entice people to bring illegal drugs in exchange for jobs, money and free travel abroad.
Mantaring said heroin is not usually used in the Philippines because of its high price. He said drugs of choice in the country are shabu, marijuana and other low-priced substances.
He said the Philippines is used as a transit point by WADS, whose members recruit Filipinos looking for jobs abroad.