Nigerian, South Korean nabbed in drug case in Quezon City

Nigerian Samuel Egbo, center, is escorted by Filipino narcotics agents at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Quezon City on Tuesday. AP/Aaron Favila

MANILA, Philippines—Police have arrested a suspected West African drug syndicate member and a female South Korean courier in a sting operation in Quezon City.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Jose Gutierrez said Nigerian Samuel Egbo and South Korean Choi Yunji sold 1.1 pounds (0.5 kilograms) of cocaine worth $58,140 to a narcotics agent posing as a buyer Tuesday in Quezon city. Both claimed innocence.

He said Egbo was involved in the recruitment of Filipino drug couriers, including a woman who was executed in China in March for heroin smuggling in 2008.

Agency spokesman Derrick Carreon said the syndicate operates around the world, recruiting couriers from various countries. He said the Nigerian suspect is based in Thailand.