American DJ in P50-M drug case pleads not guilty

MANILA, Philippines - An American disc jockey caught allegedly with P50 million worth of illegal drugs in Makati City last year pleaded not guilty during his arraignment yesterday.

Brian Hill, 32, was arraigned on six counts of illegal drug possession before Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Tranquil Salvador.

Hill was nabbed by agents of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force in his condominium unit in Barangay Bel-Air, Makati on Nov. 20, 2012.

Police said they seized from the American were one kilo of shabu worth P5 million, five grams of cocaine, Valium tablets and drug paraphernalia.

Police said they recovered five more kilos of shabu from the suspect’s Mitsubishi Pajero (SEP-825).

Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia said Hill will be transferred from Camp Crame to the Makati City jail once the court issues his commitment order.