NBI arrests Iranian man for selling opium

MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday its agents arrested over the weekend an Iranian man, who owns a chain of restaurants, for allegedly selling opium in Manila.

NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula said Leeyouvenhouk Baroutian, 51, yielded a total of 70 grams of opium with a street value of P140,000 when he was arrested. Lawmen who raided his house in Sampaloc, Manila also found nine grams of dried marijuana leaves.

Baroutian said he owns four branches of the World Class Persian Kebab Restaurant in Pasig, Mandaluyong, Parañaque and Quezon City.

In a news conference at the NBI headquarters yesterday afternoon, NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Services lawyer Ruel Lasala said opium, grown mainly in Myanmar and Afghanistan, is smuggled into the country.

The NBI said Baroutian is the alleged source of opium in the Manila area, but he denied the allegation. He said the seized drugs belong to his estranged best friend, Sharon Bayat.

Lasala said the opium, a highly addictive substance, is either smoked or injected. With an opium high, he said the user experiences a rush of pleasure, followed by relaxation, freedom from anxiety and relief of physical pain.

According to Lasala, it is very rare for the NBI to chance upon those involved in the sale of opium – it is more common for the NBI to arrest sellers of marijuana, shabu and cocaine.

The Manila prosecutor’s office recommended no bail for Baroutian, who is detained at the NBI jail. Under Philippine law, Lasala said there is no bail if the amount of opium seized is 10 grams or more.