Drug 'kingpin' nabbed at NAIA

Manila, Philippines - A Chinese man, tagged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the “kingpin” of a big-time drug syndicate based in Binondo, was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Wednesday afternoon.

PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. said Mark Tan, alias Ronghao Chen, 44, is considered one of the country’s big-time drug traffickers. “According to reports, he uses his own bank account in receiving payments for illicit transactions nationwide,” he said in a statement.

Tan was arrested by PDEA agents who served him an arrest warrant in the vicinity of the NAIA Terminal 3 at around 3 p.m. The PDEA said Tan had just arrived from Hong Kong when he was arrested.

Gutierrez said Tan escaped during a drug bust along Timog Avenue in Quezon City last Feb. 2. The operation resulted in the arrest of Clarence Chen Go, alias Tony Go, who identified Tan as his boss.

Gutierrez said the agency is intensifying its campaign against high-value targets, particularly illegal drug financiers and drug lords operating in the country. He said this is in compliance with a directive issued by President Aquino.