Another case filed vs. Taguba, 8 others over P6.4-B shabu shipment

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed another criminal case against nine people allegedly involved in the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China that was smuggled through the Manila port in May last year.

State prosecutors on Tuesday slapped a case for transportation and delivery of dangerous drugs under Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) with the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court against alleged Customs fixer Mark Ruben Taguba II, Philippine Hongfei Logistics Group of Companies Inc. chairman Chen Ju Long, also known as Richard Tan or Richard Chen, and Li Guang Feng, also known as Manny Li.

Also named in the charge sheet were businessman Dong Yi Shen Xi, also known as Kenneth Dong; Eirene Mae Tatad, owner of EMT Trading, consignee of the drug shipment; customs broker Teejay Marcellana; Taiwanese nationals Chen I-Min and Jhu Ming Jyun; Hongfei's Chen Rong Huan; and three unidentified individuals.??

They are the same individuals facing a drug importation case before the Manila City Regional Trial Court.

The shipment arrived in the country on May 16 last year and was subsequently released from the Manila International Container Port on May 23.

Following a tip from its Chinese counterpart, the Bureau of Customs, with the help of the National Bureau of Investigation, seized on May 26 the 602.2 kilograms of shabu from Chen’s Hongfei Logistics warehouse in Valenzuela City.

The DOJ is still evaluating whether smuggling charges should be filed in court against most of the accused in the importation case. —ALG, GMA News