NBI charges 2 Canadians for possession of illegal drugs

The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday lodged before the Department of Justice illegal drug complaints against Canadian nationals arrested in an early morning raid Makati City.

 

Canadians James Clayton Riach and Ali Memar Mortavazi Shirazi underwent inquest proceedings conducted by Assistant Prosecution Anna Marie Devanadera.

 

The two were slapped with charges of possession of illegal drugs, in violation of Section 11, Article 2 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

 

The NBI said Riach has been in the Philippines for about three months already "to establish a network to perpetrate the illegal drugs trade."

The agency also said it was able to confirm the suspects' illegal activities through a "test buy operation," in which agents pretended to be buyers.

 

Authorities confirmed the purchased items were illegal drugs after laboratory testing. The NBI then requested and secured a search warrant from Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 141.

 

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier said the arrested suspects allegedly import material from Mexico and process them into shabu, cocaine, and ecstacy for distribution in night clubs and bars.

 

Authorities also confirmed Riach was among the members of a "dreaded crime gang" in Canada who have been convicted there for various crimes. — Mark Merueñas/JDS, GMA News