American nabbed for possession of 1,000 tablets of party drugs

A man who claims to be a retired intelligence officer of the United States Air Force was arrested on Monday while in possession of so-called party drugs in Taguig City.

Authorities identified the suspect as Raul Antonio Cisneros, who was nabbed by the Taguig police in his condominium unit around 2 p.m., GMA News' Steve Dailisan on said in an exclusive report on "24 Oras."

More than 1,000 tablets of assorted party drugs and P40,000 cash were seized during the raid.

Cisneros said he thought that illegal drugs were legal in the Philippines.

"I thought this is (party drugs) is okay here," he said.

Cisneros, who arrived at the country only in April, did not give details on how he brought the drugs into the country.

He admitted that he was dealing with Filipino distributors.

"I'm not saying these aren't mine but I'm helping some Filipinos," he said. "It was given to people who want it."

One of his alleged customers is Patrick Wayne Tandez, who was arrested at a convenience store in Makati on Sunday.

Tandez, however, claimed he was only instructed by Cisneros to deliver the party drugs.

Seized from Tandez were 100 suspected ecstasy tablets hidden inside junk food.

The Taguig police also confiscated 11 sachets of suspected shabu, party drugs and a small bottle of liquid shabu from another suspect identified as Kenneth Santillan at a buy bust operation last Saturday.

Police also recovered a cellphone video that showed instructions on how the liquid shabu should be injected into the body.

Santillan said he was forced to engage in the illegal drug trade because his father was suffering from a lung disease.

Police caught up with Santillan through another drug suspect who was arrested last Friday night at the posh Palace Pool Club in Taguig.

Santillan's alleged middle man, on the other hand, was arrested in a follow up operation.

"Ito 'yung mga hinahanap natin na mga high value targets na nakatira sa mga first class condominiums dito sa BGC (Bonifacio Global City) area and Makati City," said National Capital Region Police Director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde.

Cisneros and the four other suspects are set to face charges for violation of Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  —Virgil Lopez/NB, GMA News