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DOJ to end probe on P6.4-B shabu shipment in January 2018


The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to wrap up in January next year its preliminary investigation on the smuggling charges filed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) against several people in relation to the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China.

Assistant State Prosecutor Charles Guhit has scheduled for Jan. 4, 2018 the submission of respective memorandum of the nine respondents and the BOC, afterwhich the complaint for violations of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) and Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) will be submitted for resolution.

Prior to this, the BOC will have to submit its reply to the counter affidavits on December 20.

Among those charged by the BOC were customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II and businessman Kenneth Dong who both asked the DOJ to dismiss the complaint for lack of probable cause.

The other respondents are Philippine Hongfei Logistics Group of Companies Inc. chairman Chen Ju Long, alias Richard Tan or Richard Chen, Eirene May Tatad, owner of EMT Trading, consignee of the drug shipment, Taiwanese nationals Chen Min and Jhu Ming Jyun, warehouseman Fidel Anoche Dee, customs broker Teejay Marcellana, Manny Li and unidentified individuals whom the BOC believed to have been involved in the shabu shipment.

Chen earlier failed to submit his counter affidavit. The DOJ, however, gave him another chance to submit one on December 11.

Except for Dee, the other respondents are already facing a case for importation of dangerous drugs before the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court Branch 171 in relation to the 602.2-kilogram shabu shipment that was seized by BOC and National Bureau of Investigation operatives from Hongfei’s warehouse on May 26. —ALG, GMA News

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