Ayala-Alabang Village as a drug lab?

A tip that foreign nationals residing in the exclusive enclave in Muntinlupa were involved in smuggling shabu and cocaine to Australia led to the raid on two houses and the arrest of several individuals on 18 November.

The raid — led by PDEA Asec /officer-in-charge Gregorio R. Pimentel, with combined elements from the Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Manila International Container Port field station, and Enforcement and Security Service; Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; Philippine National Police; Armed Forces of the Philippines; and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency — yielded 22 kg or P136 million worth of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), plus two kg or P13.6 million worth of the same substance, on 304 Mabolo Street and 523 Madrigal Avenue, respectively, in Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City.

Arrested in the Mabolo Street house were Aurélien Cythere, 41, French national, divorced, unemployed; and Mark Anthony Sayarot, 42, single, businessman, and residing at 23 Cabbage Street, Valley 5, Ugong, Pasig City.

Apprehended in the Madrigal Street address were Ariana Golesorkhi, 33, Canadian national, businessman; Audemar Ponsica, 31, driver; and Welmar Laban, 37, helper.

Part of the evidence seized were various controlled precursors and essential chemicals in different volumes used to manufacture illegal substances, various laboratory materials and equipment, identification cards, mobile phones, and other pertinent documents.

The BOC and PDEA conducted a series of case conferences and exchanges of information among point persons before the operations.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Jeoffrey Tacio and PDEA Director Adrian Alvarino are continuously coordinating after the successful anti-drug operation.

While further information is still being gathered, the seized pieces of evidence were turned over to the PDEA Laboratory Service for qualitative and quantitative examination and for the filing of appropriate charges against the arrested individuals.

Prior to the operation, Customs Deputy Commissioner retired Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy said that the BOC and PDEA formed a Joint-Operation against illicit drugs and suspected individuals who were reported to have been into smuggling activity of shabu and cocaine to Australia on June 16, 2022.

They also held a series of meetings to share information.

"I consider this a successful first step in bringing these perpetrators to justice and for them to face the full extent of the law. We've been after these groups for as long as I can remember. Even before I joined BOC, the agency has been after these smugglers of illegal drugs," he shared. (with reports from Raffy Ayeng and Bernie Anabo)