NBI nabs alleged West African drug syndicate member

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested recently a reported member of a West African drug syndicate and seized 352 grams of heroin, which has a street value of P400,000, an official said yesterday.

NBI deputy director Ruel Lasala said they arrested Marita Lualhati Reyes, 42, a widow, and a resident of Marian subdivision at Sta. Maria, Bulacan last Jan. 31. Reyes, who worked as a domestic helper in Islamabad, Pakistan, was charged with drug possession and is being held at the NBI detention cell.

According to investigators, Reyes’ Nigerian boyfriend, Max Chidi, alias Angel, told her to swallow 10 small capsules of heroin and insert a larger capsule into her genitalia. She transported the heroin from Islamabad to the Philippines, and was supposed to pass it on to another member of the syndicate when she was arrested on Jan. 31 near the corner of Pedro Gil and Adriatico streets in Manila.

Reyes said she was offered money to bring the drugs to China, but she refused. She said she was ill for three days after arriving in the country on Jan. 13.

The woman said Chidi gave her a roundtrip plane ticket and promised to marry her as soon as the heroin reaches China safely. Reyes said she was forced to transport the drugs because the syndicate threatened to harm her children. She added that her husband had just died and she was supposed to work on the funeral services.

Reyes denied that she knew the capsules contained heroin – she said she was told the capsules held “organic materials” and could not be sold.

The NBI has launched a manhunt against Reyes’ alleged cohorts in the Philippines. The NBI said it has already identified the cohorts and is currently monitoring their activities.