THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is currently gathering background information on Chinese national Jacky Co, who was tagged as the brains behind the smuggling of P1.8 billion worth of illegal drugs in March.
In a privilege speech on Wednesday, May 29, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Co, whose real name is Zhijian Xu, was responsible for the smuggling of 276 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) valued at over P1.8 billion which were discovered inside an unclaimed container at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on March 22, 2019.
“Sa kasalukuyan, tinitingnan natin ‘yung record natin tungkol sa pagkakakilanlan ng taong ito. Kasalukuyan tayong nagbe-verify kung ano ang kaniyang background at ano ang meron tayo sa records natin,” PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday, May 30.
(As of now, we are conducting a background check on this person. We are also checking our records if we have anything on him.)
Lacson said Co was able to get in and out of the country despite being on the Interpol’s watchlist. Co is reportedly a wanted person in China.
The senator said that aside from his involvement in the illegal drugs trade, Co is also a member of a kidnapping syndicate which collects ransom money through wire transfer and offshore banking.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will also look into Co's background. (SunStar Philippines)