Republic of the Office of the President PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY NIA Northside Road, National Government Center Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City

PRESS RELEASE # 308/16 DATE : July 15, 2016 AUTHORITY : PDDGen ISIDRO S LAPEÑA (Ret), PhD, CSEE Director General For more information, please text or call: Mr. Glenn J. Malapad, OIC, Public Information Office Tel. No. 929-3244, 927-9702 Loc.131; Cell phone: 09274560042 ______

NIGERIAN ARRESTED FOR P1 MILLION WORTH OF SHABU IN

A Nigerian national, who is a suspected member of the African Drug Syndicate (ADS), was arrested by anti-narcotics agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during an entrapment operation in Marikina City.

PDEA Director General Isidro S Lapeña identified the suspect as Ejiye Okoye, alias Martin, 33 years old, a Nigerian national and presently residing in Marikina City.

In the evening of July 12, 2016, joint operatives of PDEA Regional Office 3 (PDEA RO3) under Director Emerson Rosales and PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (PDEA RO-NCR) under Director Wilkins Villanueva conducted the buy- bust operation inside a resto bar along Don Juan , Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina City.

Confiscated from Okoye were six transparent plastic sachets containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, weighing more or less 300 grams, with an estimated market value of P1,050,000.

Okoye has been residing in the country for two years now and reportedly engaged in football coaching to camouflage his illegal drug activities. He plies his illegal trade in Metro and nearby provinces of Central Luzon.

A case for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, is now being prepared for filling in court against Okoye, who is presently detained at PDEA RO3 Jail Facility in Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. # # #