Arrested Canadian played big role in Alitagtag shabu haul–Abalos

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. presents the Canadian national linked to the delivery of the 1.4-ton shabu (crystal meth) in Alitagtag, Batangas before members of the media on Monday, May 20, 2024 during a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — The Canadian national who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the delivery of the 1.4-ton shabu (crystal meth) in Alitagtag, Batangas “played a big role” in the multi-billion peso drug haul, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.

Abalos said this as he presented the suspect, identified as Thomas Gordon O’ Quinn, who also goes by the name James Toby Martin, before the members of the media on Monday. O’Quinn was apprehended at a spa in Tagaytay City, Cavite, last May 16.

“So far ang masasabi ko lang malaki ang parte ng tao na ito, nahuli siya meron syang red notice, nakasuhan sya sa ibang bagay pa nakita sa kanya during the serving of the warrant,” the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary said in a press briefing.

(So far, this person has played a big part in this operation; he was caught, has a red notice, and was charged with other things that were seen on him while serving the warrant.)

“If you could bear with us, we cannot reveal any details right now,” he, however, added.

O’Quinn’s arrest stemmed from a mission order issued by the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation “in relation to the Interpol Red Notice with file number 2018/29998.”

READ: Canadian linked to shabu bust in Alitagtag, Batangas nabbed

Following O’Quinn’s arrest, his case was presented for inquest proceedings.

In an earlier statement, the National Capital Region Police Office said that the operation in Tagaytay that led to the suspect’s arrest is directly linked to the drug bust in Alitagtag, Batangas, last April 15.

Police said illegal drugs were seized from O’Quinn upon his apprehension.

Last April 15, a passenger van was flagged down at a checkpoint in Alitagtag’s Barangay Pinagkurusan. The van was in transit heading towards Lipa City when its driver, identified as Alajon Michael Zarate, was instructed to pull over.

Fajardo said the seized illegal drugs are now under the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), while the suspect is facing charges of violating Section 5, Article II of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.

READ: Gov’t destroys P11-B shabu from Quezon bust

Records showed that this P9.68 billion drug bust is the second biggest drug haul after the confiscation of P11 billion worth of shabu found in 1,589 tea bags seized in Infanta, Quezon province, last March 2022.

Aside from these, authorities also seized 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion during a buy-bust operation in Tondo, Manila, in October 2022.