The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is preparing to send a team to Laos to investigate a foiled attempt to smuggle 521 kilograms of suspected shabu worth approximately ₱3.54 billion into the Philippines.
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said the team is ready to travel but is awaiting clearance from Lao authorities. He added that the NBI is coordinating with the Lao government and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“We're team ready already to go to Laos, but we're waiting for their go-signal for us to go there,” Matibag said.
Matibag clarified that the bureau does not intend to take custody of the arrested suspect, as the alleged crime was committed outside Philippine territory.
“Not to get the suspect because if you look at it, the crime is not committed in our country,” he said.
He explained that under the principle of territoriality in criminal law, offenses are generally prosecuted in the country where they were committed, subject to exceptions provided by law.
However, Matibag stressed that the NBI considers the case a matter of national interest and wants to establish who was behind the attempted drug smuggling operation.
“Because of the national interest, we want to find out sino talaga [ang] nakausap,” he said.
The NBI team intends to interview both the arrested suspect and the Lao authorities who carried out the arrest as part of its investigation.
“So we want to interview the person arrested, including the arresting officers of the Laos government,” Matibag said.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) earlier identified the arrested Filipino as Fahad, also reported as Fahad Mulok Dibarosan.
PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez identified former Bangsamoro Parliament member Edriezan Hadji Nasser Rimbang, also known as Sultan, as an alleged key player and mastermind of the operation, citing affidavits obtained by the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
Authorities have also identified other persons of interest in connection with the shipment. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence to establish the involvement of those allegedly linked to the operation.
Rimbang has denied any involvement in the drug shipment. He said he had never faced a drug-related charge and called on authorities to investigate the allegations, urging them to stop linking him to the alleged operation without evidence.
