Pinoy faces extradition for 'exporting' shabu to Guam

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino will soon be extradited to face drug charges in the United States for stashing methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in airline flights bound for Guam, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday.

NBI agents arrested Mario Mercader, 60, last Nov. 16 as he was visiting his family’s ancestral home along Ampere street in Palanan, Makati City.

The NBI said Mercader, a US green card holder, was charged before the United States District Court for the territory of Guam for conspiracy to import and distribute methamphetamine hydrochloride.

In its post-operation report, the NBI said that from 1995 to 1997, Mercader and his co-defendants allegedly imported and distributed shabu in the US.

The NBI said Mercader worked briefly for a firm servicing the aircraft of a US-based airline. Having learned the company’s procedure for servicing flights, Mercader was reportedly able to devise a scheme to import shabu from the Philippines to Guam.

He had couriers to place the shabu under seat cushions or aircraft lavatories, then hired some of the aircraft service firm’s employees to retrieve the packages. The retrieved shabu was then sold in Guam.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency arrested those involved in trafficking shabu in Guam. They pleaded guilty and pointed to Mercader as the source of the drugs.

On June 28, 2001, the US District Court for the District of Guam issued a warrant of arrest against Mercader for the offenses charged in the indictment.