THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) filed on Friday, May 31, charges against Xu Zhi Jian alias Jacky Co and several others for smuggling P1.8 billion worth of illegal drugs.

PDEA Director Aaron Aquino said charges for the violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were filed before the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Jacky Co and other officers and directors of Wealth Lotus Empire Corporation and Fortuneyield Cargo Services.

Wealth Lotus and Fortuneyield were the consignees of the shipment containing over 276 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride.

The shipment was intercepted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in Manila on March 22, after PDEA was informed by its counterpart in Vietnam.

Aquino said the illegal drugs were concealed among legally imported merchandise plastic resins.

“Documents and affidavits would show that the acts committed by the respondents have a vital connection to the chain of conspiracy, that without such acts, the unlawful importation would be unsuccessful,” he said.

“Filing the appropriate charges will serve as a warning to those individuals, especially to government employees, who extend assistance in drug trafficking,” he added.

Aquino said the PDEA is strengthening collaboration with foreign counterparts with the end view of putting a stop to bulk smuggling of dangerous drugs.

In his privilege speech on Wednesday, May 29, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Co, whose real name is Zhi Jian Xu was responsible for the shipment.

Lacson said Co was able to get in and out of the country despite being on the Interpol’s watchlist for being a wanted person in mainland China.

He said that aside from involvement in the illegal drugs trade, Co is also a member of a kidnapping syndicate in the country which collects ransom money through wire transfer and offshore banking.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will also look into the case. (SunStar Philippines)