Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Police caught Thursday six suspected big-time drug financiers late Wednesday in Caloocan City.
Charles Shi, Arthur Sy, Maricar Bernardo, alias Glen Bernardo, alias Irene and alias Dante were accused as financiers and money launderers of drug lords operating in different parts of the country.
“We are now hitting the financial the managers of the drug lords kasi ito ang [because they are] the heart of the drug lords. Kung walang pera, wala [Without funds, there’s nothing],” said Northern Police District chief Roberto Fajardo.
Police arrested Shi, Sy and the Bernardo couple in a Caloocan City condominium, which is believed to be their financial operation center.
Alias Irene and Dante were captured in an earlier operation around the vicinity of the condominium, while a certain Charlie Ang, who is also part of the group, was able to fly to China before the drug operation.
Authorities confiscated financial documents worth billions of pesos, such as passbooks, ATM cards, debit cards, ledgers, bluebooks and pre-signed checks. They also seized crystalline substances suspected to be shabu and cash worth ₱700,000.
“By the millions, billions pa. Kasi pati kami nalulula eh dahil sa laki ng transaction. This will further enhance para we dig deeper… financial investigation na ‘to kailangan na ng tulong ng accountant, financial investigators,” Fajardo said.
[Translation: By the millions, even billions. Even we’re in awe because of the size of the transactions. This will further enhance so we dig deeper… This is a financial investigation, so it needs the help of an accountant and financial investigators.]
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Anti-transnational Crime Unit Chief Roque Merdegia, Jr. said they came up with a thorough investigation on the financial operation of the drug trade following an illegal firearms operation in February where, incidentally, they seized financial documents of drug money and 2.5 kilograms of shabu that led them to these arrested drug personalities.
Authorities said the suspects seem to have been using dummy corporations to operate.
“Naka-recover tayo ng isang desisyon ng Court of Appeals na pinapa-close yung bank accounts nitong suspects. Kasi itong suspects ay napatunayan na involved sa money laundering,” said Merdegia.
[Translation: We recovered a decision by the Court of Appeals that ordered the closure of the suspects’ bank accounts, because they were proved to be involved in money laundering.]
The suspects denied the allegations.
“Hindi ko alam. Hindi totoo iyon [I don’t know. That’s not true],” said Sy.
Authorities said the suspects will face charges of violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001. Both are non-bailable offenses.
