Mindanao politician financed plane to smuggle P3.5B shabu from Laos —PDEA

A politician from Mindanao allegedly provided the funds for the private plane that would have been used to smuggle P3.5 billion worth of illegal drugs from Laos to the Philippines, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Thursday.

According to Isa Avendaño-Umali's report on Super Radyo DZBB, PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut didn't name the politician but said that the person is opposed to the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The investigation and case buildup are still ongoing, and a case may be filed against the said politician and fellow conspirators.

Lao authorities had seized 521 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in a private plane that was bound for the Philippines at the Luang Prabang International Airport on October.

There were two Filipinos caught during the arrest. Philippine authorities have since been able to trace the transactions made and identify other suspects.

One of the Filipino suspects, an alias “Fahad”, is reportedly based in Marawi.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier said that the chartered private plane was registered in the United States. –NB, GMA News