Ecstasy by way of couriers

At least 20 scions of prominent families in Metro Manila had been under the employ of the so-called Corinthian Boys as couriers.

The group, whose members are residents of Corinthian Gardens in Quezon City, was recently busted for selling the illegal drug.

Information about the courier network was unearthed by investigators from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) during tactical interrogation of five suspects, including the alleged source of Ecstacy pills and leader of the group, Jerome Magno, 32.

Operatives headed by Superintendent Nicolas Gregorio, chief of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) of the NCRPO, arrested five suspects during separate operations last week in San Juan, Makati City and Quezon City. They yielded 472 tablets of Ecstasy, with a total street value of P708,000.

As this developed, former Philippine Constabulary chief retired Gen. Ramon Montaño admitted Magno was his nephew.

Montano also admitted calling up Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, not to influence the case, but to inquire the circumstances leading to the arrest of Magno and his group.

"I called up just to inquire how my nephew and his companions were arrested," Montano told The Star in an interview. Velasco confirmed Montano’s claim.

Superintendent Miguel Laurel, NCRPO intelligence chief, said they are now determining ways to stop the spread of Ecstacy pills, which the suspects claimed were sent by mail from the Netherlands.

"They are smuggling their supply through packages or by way of airport facilities. We are now searching for ways to permanently stop these transactions," Laurel told The Star.

He said they have not confirmed if other members of the Corinthian Boys or their couriers have resumed the Ecstasy trade following the arrest of Magno and his companions.

Gregorio said only Magno and Paulo de Asis remained in jail. Both face illegal transport, possession and sale of prohibited drugs. Bail has been denied by prosecutor Dindo Venturina of the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

The NCRPO-PACER chief said the Corinthian Boys’ list of clients include movie personalities. However, he refused to identify them for fear of jeopardizing ongoing follow-up operations. "We will get them soon," he simply said. – Non Alquitran