Cops nab Canadian allegedly linked to P9.68 billion Batangas drug haul

A Canadian national allegedly linked to the P9.68 billion in shabu seized in Tagaytay City in April was arrested in Tagaytay City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Friday.

NCRPO chief Police Major General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. told GMA News Online that some illegal drugs were also seized from the suspect during the manhunt operation.

The suspect, identified as Thomas Gordon or "James Martin,” was arrested in Maitim Dos on Thursday, according to Mark Makalalad's Super Radyo dzBB report.

A red notice from INTERPOL had been issued against the suspect.

The 1.4 tons of illegal drugs were seized last April 15 in Barangay Pinagkurusan at an intelligence-driven checkpoint set up by the Alitagtag Municipal Police Station.

A male suspect was also arrested and placed under the custody of authorities.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said authorities were tracing the source of the illegal drugs.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said that the seized illegal drugs came from a different source compared to the ones confiscated in previous operations.

According to PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, the packaging and markings on the seized shabu in Batangas were unique.

“Malaki po yung pagkakaiba po sa mga previous na nakikita natin na naka-contain sa mga foreign-looking na mga teabags po. Ito po ay nakalagay sa plastic container. Malayo po yung markings niya doon sa normally na nakikita natin sa previous drug hauls po,” she added.

(There is a big difference from the previous ones contained in foreign-looking teabags. These were placed in a plastic container. Its markings are different from what we normally see in previous drug hauls.)

Fajardo said the police are looking into the possibility that a drug syndicate was behind the confiscated illegal drugs. — DVM, GMA Integrated News