Palace orders NBI to probe into alleged smuggling of illegal drugs

August 14, 2018

Malacanang has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the alleged smuggling of P6.8 billion worth of shabu into the country.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that he was informed on Monday by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea he directed the NBI to look into the issue.

"The closest statement is that the Executive Secretary has ordered the NBI to conduct a thorough investigation on this matter," he said.

Roque said that the possible entry of  a ton of shabu, which was allegedly placed in several magnetic lifters, was a cause for alarm.

But he added, "that report that (drugs) were possibly slipped into the country, that is still speculation."

"We're not accepting it yet as a gospel truth," he added.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Aaron Aquino has said that there was still an investigation if such huge shipment of illegal drugs was able to enter the country.

If it was true that drug syndicates managed to bring in to the Philippines such volume of illegal drugs without being detected, Roque reiterated the need for the concerned government agencies to be really alert due to new schemes that they are employing to smuggle narcotics. Celerina Monte/DMS