3 Vietnamese held for selling drugs hidden in rice sack

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation arrested three Vietnamese for selling illegal drugs hidden inside a bag of rice during a drug sting in Pasay City.

According to a report, the agency’s Organized and Transnational Crime Division (OTCD) apprehended the suspects after handing over a plastic sack of rice to a courier. Although the package appeared to contain only rice, authorities were able to retrieve sachets of ketamine and ecstasy drugs from the bag.

Mark Santiago, OTCD executive officer, the Vietnamese were engaged in drug distribution and were waiting for customers at a motel in Pasay.

He added that the foreigners told investigators that their primary customers were Vietnamese and Chinese, who contact them through messaging apps and the social media.

The suspects were charged with violating the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to RA 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The suspects are currently detained at the NBI detention facility in Muntinlupa.