Chinese financier of drug syndicate nabbed

MANILA - Anti-narcotics agents have arrested a Chinese national, allegedly a financier of a big-time drug syndicate based in Binondo, Manila, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Saturday.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the suspect as Changxin Wang, an alleged member of the Binondo Chinese Drug Group responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs in Metro Manila and other nearby areas.

At 11 a.m. on January 4, operatives of the PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (PDEA RO-NCR) served the warrant of arrest against Wang at the vicinity of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Padre Faura Street, Manila, for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), in relation to Section 26 (Conspiracy to Sell), Article II, of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Wang was set to have his preliminary investigation at the DOJ building for money laundering charges when arrested by PDEA RO-NCR operatives.

Cacdac said that Wang eluded arrest during a buy-bust operation conducted by PDEA agents along Timog Avenue, Quezon City on February 2 last year, which resulted in the arrest of Clarence Chen Go, alias Tony Go and the confiscation of more than two kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.

“Wang is in-charge of the money laundering activities of the Binondo Chinese Drug Group, replacing Mark Tan, believed to be the group’s kingpin who himself was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last July 2012,” Cacdac said.

According to reports, the drug group uses their bank accounts in receiving payments for illicit transactions nationwide prior to delivery of illegal drugs.

Wang is now under the custody of PDEA RO-NCR for processing and will be turned over to the Quezon City Jail. (SDR/Sunnex)