THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has turned over P11 billion worth of illegal drugs to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The NBI, through its Forensic Chemistry Division (FCD) that has custody of the illegal drugs, turned over to PDEA on April 11 and 26, 2022, a total of 1,855 kilograms of illegal drugs.
NBI OIC-Director Eric Distor said the turnover was in compliance with the orders of the Regional Trial Court – Fourth Judicial Region of Infanta, Quezon.
Distor said that on March 15, 2022, joint operatives of the NBI led by the Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) seized more than one ton of suspected illegal drugs worth P11 billion in Barangay Comon, Infanta, Quezon.
The joint operation was conducted by TFAID operatives together with the NBI-Research and Analysis Division (RAD) agents, and Lucena District Office (LUCDO), in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Infanta, Quezon and PDEA Lucena.
The operation likewise resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects as they are about to transport the suspected illegal drugs on board three commuter vans.
The 10 arrested suspects were then presented for inquest proceedings before the Office of the Prosecutor of Infanta, Quezon for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
As of date, the operation that yielded the illegal drugs remain to be the biggest drug haul in the country in terms of volume and amount, Distor added.