A PASAY City court has sentenced two Chinese to life imprisonment for importing 240 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride into the Philippines, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
The Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 116 ordered Jason Tan Ang and James Ong Soiano to pay a P2-million fine for violating Section 4, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The case stemmed from a shipment of workbench tables from Malaysia that arrived at the Philippine Skylander Inc. International Cargo Terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport complex in Pasay City in October 2020.
During an examination, Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel discovered suspicious substances concealed in 12 plastic tea bags inside the shipment.
Laboratory examination later confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, with a total weight of about 240 kilograms.
Acting on the BOC report and information from a consignee who was supposed to deliver the shipment to Cabanatuan City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted an entrapment operation.
The two Chinese were arrested after receiving the shipment containing the illegal drugs.
The court upheld the integrity of the chain of custody of the seized drugs, noting that the evidence presented by the DOJ was clear and convincing.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida welcomed the conviction, saying it sends a strong message that the Philippines will not tolerate illegal drug trafficking.
“May this serve as a warning to the world that the Philippines is no haven for illegal drugs,” Vida said.
