Man caught smuggling drugs to Aussie detained at NBI

National Bureau of Investigation operatives arrest two Canadian nationals and a Filipino allegedly involved with a notorious Mexican drug cartel on Wednesday, January 15, 2014. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The attempt to smuggle illegal drugs into the jailhouse of the National Bureau of Investigation where high–profile detainees are being held had nothing to do with the Sinaloa Mexican drug cartel, according to its top officials.

“The seized cocaine and marijuana were supposedly for another detainee, an Australian national, not for the recently arrested members of the notorious Sinaloa Mexican drug cartel,” NBI Virgilio Mendez told reporters on Friday.

Mendez made the clarification after Peligro Asilo, who claimed to be an Army reservist, was arrested Thursday evening at the NBI jail compound after sachets of cocaine and marijuana were found in a tube of potato chips he said was intended for the Australian detainee.

Mendez added that he had ordered an investigation into why Asilo was allowed to bring in food after visiting hours.

The NBI chief said also that intelligence information provided by foreign counterparts showed that newly uncovered assassination plots were not meant only for drug cartel members arrested here recently but also for the agents who arrested them.

Mendez said two of those arrested in the Christmas Day raid were Canadian citizens Barry Espadilla and James Riach. The two are facing murder, weapons and drug charges in Canada.

“We received an advisory from our foreign counterparts of the serious threat against the suspects and our own agents who were responsible for their arrest,’’ he added.

He said these foreign agents provided the NBI photos of the alleged assassins sent here to eliminate Espadilla and Riach.

Mendez said Canadian government officials had contacted the NBI and expressed satisfaction with the charges against the two suspects.

“Apart from the safety of the suspects they also want to ensure that the suspects will not be released and level of risk for them to engage again in illegal activities is greatly reduced,” Mendez said.

Ruel Lasala, deputy director for investigative services, said the discovery of the drug smuggling attempt was  due to heightened alert at the NBI jail.

“Our efforts  paid off with the discovery and arrest of the drug courier,’’ Lasala said.

Lasala said the NBI was conducting a separate investigation into how the two suspects managed to enter the country despite their criminal records in Canada.

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