CIDG rescues drug courier; heroin seized

MANILA, Philippines - What was supposed to be an operation to rescue a reported kidnap victim by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region on Monday, it ended in the rescue of a 22-year old drug trafficking “mule” from the hands of an international drug syndicate.

According to Inspector Rommel Macatlang of the CIDG-NCR, his unit managed to rescue victim Jayson Ordinario before he was about to fly out of the country to Macau, China, carrying 34 plastic capsules each containing at least 12 grams of high-grade heroin in his stomach. Two other men, suspected to be members of the drug ring were arrested during Ordinario’s rescue. They were identified as John Enumeng, 48; and Elpidio Gonzales, 49.

Seized from Enumeng and Gonzales were six capsules, also containing heroin, police said. Also seized from Enumeng was his passport showing that he had made trips from Malaysia, to the Philippines and to Macau.

Macatlang said that at about 4 p.m. Monday, Ordinario’s parents went to their office in Camp Crame and sought their help.

“They said their son was kidnapped. According to them, he was seen by his wife being forced inside a taxi outside their house in Sampaloc, Manila, at about 7 a.m. last Sunday,” Macatlang said. Macatlang said Ordinario’s parents went to the CIDG shortly after they received a text message supposedly coming from their son.

In the text message, Ordinario asked for help and said he was brought to Quiapo, Manila. In the text message, Ordinario added that he would soon be brought to the international airport.

The CIDG immediately dispatched a team to look for Ordinario at Quiapo and at the vicinity of the airport.

Macatlang said that at about 6 p.m. on Monday, police spotted Ordinario inside a taxi parked near the Park and Fly complex near the international airport. Immediately, CIDG agents led by CIDG-NCR deputy chief, Superintendent Jonnel Estomo swooped on the taxi and arrested the two suspects.

The suspects are now detained at the CIDG office in Camp Crame.

Initial investigation showed that the suspects had recruited Ordinario to serve as their mule. Ordinario, however, later told police that he was intimidated by the suspects to swallow the capsules. Police later learned that Ordinario has a sister who is now in jail in China after she was caught serving as a heroin “mule.”

“He has a sister who is now in jail in China also for the same type of drug smuggling. He told us that he was intimidated by the suspects to swallow the capsules,” Macatlang said. He said the syndicate get their heroin from Nigeria and then transfer the drugs by using “mules” through the Philippines, then to Macau and then either to the United States or Europe.

“We are still looking at the extent of this syndicate’s operation,” said Macatlang. He added that according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), at least 300 persons are now serving time in jails in China for this type of drug smuggling.