A local court sentenced two Chinese nationals to life imprisonment over a 2020 drug trafficking attempt involving 239 kilograms of methamphetamine, a ruling welcomed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as a major legal victory.

In a 24-page decision dated last 25 August the Pasay City Regional Trial Court ordered Jason Ang and James Soriano to serve life sentences and pay a fine of P2 million each for importing illegal drugs valued at P1.62 billion.

Law enforcement agents arrested the duo during an October 2020 controlled delivery operation in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

Authorities intercepted the drug shipment, which was concealed inside tea bags originating from Malaysia.

In a weekend statement, PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said the successful conviction underscores the importance of patience, inter-agency coordination and evidence-based law enforcement.

Nerez said the suspects mistakenly believed the contraband would slip into their hands undetected, but vigilant agents caught them during a complex operation conducted during the pandemic.

The drug agency chief vowed to aggressively protect the nation's borders, warning transnational syndicates that illegal drugs will not be allowed into the country without a fight.